Homeschool Talks: Ideas And Inspiration For Your Homeschool

Nine years ago, Nicole Doyle started homeschooling because public school wasn’t working for her middle schooler—and what began as a homeschool venture has turned into a calling! Nicole is now in various leadership positions in her homeschool community and is opening up a world of possibilities for her children and other homeschool families. Join Nicole and HSLDA President Jim Mason as they discuss the value of community, fostering joy in children, and the healing that homeschooling brings to families!  “Homeschooling is about healing. . . . It’s easier to raise a healthy child that’s emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy than it is to fix damaged adults. And society is showing us that there are so many people hurting each other. . . . We are here to secure that childhood joy. I believe if we can have childhood joy, the world will be a better place.” –Nicole Doyle

With state legislatures in session, HSLDA’s legislative season is in full swing! It’s all-hands-on-deck to preserve homeschool freedom, but what exactly does that look like? Scott Woodruff (HSLDA Director of Legal and Legislative Advocacy) gives Jim Mason (HSLDA President) the rundown on the types of bills we are watching—from homeschool statutes to religious-freedom and parental-rights bills. Scott also explains the mechanisms in place when we oppose or support a bill, and how your grassroots efforts and support for HSLDA keep making homeschooling possible. “We send out alerts to members and friends urging them to call lawmakers to oppose a bill. With thousands of people getting that request for action, lawmakers are going to be hearing from their constituents. If a lawmaker has gotten 100 phone calls opposing a bill and then I call that lawmaker, now the lawmaker listens, not because he cares about me, but because he knows his constituents know about this and they’re going to hold him accountable for it.”—

Chris Butler is a homeschool dad, pastor, and advocate. Having run in the primaries in the 1st congressional district of Illinois, Chris understands the power of being a parent in society and advocating for the needs of his community. Chris and his wife Aziza started WeSchool Academy, a learning center that seeks to equip families in their homeschool journey. Join this insightful conversation between Chris and HSLDA President Jim Mason on the power of homeschooling in community—and be reminded that you don’t have to take the journey alone!  “A lot of people think homeschooling is something you do by yourself, but I don’t know any homeschooling family that sees themselves as on a journey alone. Everybody is doing [homeschooling] in some kind of community.”—Chris Butler

Being a parent requires a lot of different “hats” to wear, but never underestimate yourself and the variety of skills you can learn to accommodate for your child’s needs! In this episode, join Vicki Bentley (HSLDA PreK–8th Educational Consultant) in a conversation with Cheri Kay Sessions (HSLDA Special Needs Educational Consultant), who shares her story of homeschooling children with special needs—as a single mom. Cheri Kay began homeschooling her unique learners when she realized that her children needed a more tailored education to accommodate for their special needs, and for one of those accommodations, Cheri needed to learn another language—American Sign Language (ASL)! “Be able to let go of perfectionism and give grace to all areas of our lives and be able to say, ‘You know what, I’m not going to be able to do this today, but I'm going to let that go, and that’s okay. We’ll come back to that tomorrow.’ Single moms have a lot on their plate. They’re wearing a lot of hats. They’re doing a lot of things. We

From the Netherlands to Germany, from Alaska to Virginia, Kevin Boden and his family have homeschooled across the globe. Join Jim Mason (HSLDA President) for a thoughtful conversation with Kevin, HSLDA’s newest staff attorney (for 12 states!) and our new Director of Global Outreach. Kevin shares his journey homeschooling overseas as a military family, what brought him to HSLDA, and what opportunities lay ahead for the global homeschool movement. "[HSLDA] serves all families in other countries just the same. We are there to provide a framework and a connective tissue for them to move [homeschool freedom forward]. … Do you support freedom, and do you love your kids? And do you want to see that expanded to your communities? And that's really what we’re looking at [when it comes to HSLDA’s international work].”—Kevin Boden

Sometimes school officials don’t understand the homeschool law in their state, misinterpret the meaning, or intentionally try to overreach their authority—as was recently the case in a Kentucky school district. In this episode, Tj Schmidt (HSLDA Staff Attorney) joins Jim Mason (HSLDA President) to give a rundown of what happened in this particular county and how HSLDA advocated for local homeschool families. Tj and Jim also discuss how some situations involving only one family can actually impact many other homeschool families—which is why it’s important to stay vigilant! “I think the beauty of the homeschooling movement is that you’re able to develop that educational program that’s best for your child, for your family. And it often doesn’t look exactly like the public school. And so many times these school officials have the impression that if you’re not doing what they’re doing, then you’re not educating your child.” – Tj Schmidt

No matter what time of year it is—early January, spring cleaning season, or the start of the school year—there are only 24 hours in a day. With so little time and so much to do, discouragement can set in. Join Vicki Bentley (HSLDA Special Needs Consultant) and Kristi Clover (author of M.O.M: Master Organizer of Mayhem) for an encouraging conversation about managing expectations, helpful steps to organizing your household—like breaking down goals into baby steps to be more attainable—and not being held back by comparison! Kristi reminds us to give ourselves grace, slow down, and reevaluate our routines. “I think it’s great to set goals, but don’t set too many. You have to pick one thing at a time. […] You’re only going to achieve those goals when you break them down into baby steps to [be] attainable.”—Kristi Clover

Homeschool Talks has reached its 100th episode! To celebrate, Daniel Heffington (of HSLDA’s Generation Joshua) is interviewing your host, HSLDA President Jim Mason. Join this entertaining and encouraging conversation to learn more about Jim, his journey to HSLDA and why he became interested in homeschooling law, his thoughts on leadership and seeking out purposeful mentorship, and how the Hardy Boy mysteries helped prepare him for his role as president of HSLDA.   “One of the things that I always have tried to do, and helped me enormously, is to always have a mentor. Go adopt a mentor. Find a mentor. Find somebody [who has] been there, and [has] a different viewpoint. […] Most busy people who have those qualities that you want to learn from, they’re more than happy [to meet and are] very generous with their time.” – Jim Mason

As parents, we want to have a close relationship with our kids and raise them to be independent and to do what’s right. But somewhere along the way, we may find ourselves in a struggle for control. Sound familiar? Join Dr. Roger Smith (author of Parenting with Influence) and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) on this week’s episode of Homeschool Talks as they  examine the parent-child relationship dynamic. They’ll discuss what rules are for, why influencing children is more effective than trying to control them (and how to influence them!), and how homeschooling can provide an advantage for children in building strong family relationships.  “You don’t develop a relationship through rules. There are a lot of purposes for rules. Rules can guide us, rules can train us, but that’s not a way to manage a relationship over the long haul. I always liken it to driving a stick shift car. At first, you have to have the rules. First, you put your foot on the clutch while you have your foot on the brake and you mechanically do a

When you homeschool, your family naturally spends more time together. And, more time together means more opportunities for conflict. But according to Dr. Steve Duvall (HSLDA Research Director), homeschooling can actually help alleviate sibling rivalries and conflicts!. In this episode of Homeschool Talks, join Dr. Duvall and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) as they discuss research that sheds light on parent­–child interactions, the value of communication, and how homeschooling can foster positive character attributes in children—like exercising more forgiveness!   “It makes sense to me that homeschoolers would develop better interpersonal skills and be better at interacting with others, including forgiving others for times when things got out of control. The parents have the time, and it’s a good set up for giving the kids the attention that they need.”—Steve Duvall

It all started with an old DV camera and CGI lightsabers. As a kid, Jake Bartlett’s parents were excited about his interests and encouraged him in his desire to learn motion design and videography. Now, he teaches motion design to his 100,000+ YouTube subscribers! Join Daniel Heffington from Generation Joshua for a conversation with this homeschool grad—they’ll talk about Jake’s homeschool experience, how it gave space for creative expression and following his passion, and how he built a career in motion design.   “I feel like I at least was able to have a lot of freedom in exploring what I was interested in. Being [homeschooled and] the only student in the house, I could finish school and then spend whatever creative time I wanted, making videos, learning more about editing or you know, how to compose a shot on my little mini DV camcorder.”—Jake Bartlett

Learning starts with curiosity and a sense of wonder. Approaching new things with a beginner’s mindset piques your interest and sparks your enthusiasm. Join this conversation between Jim Mason (HSLDA President) and Nicole Jackson (environmental educator and birder) on how a parent and child working together presents the opportunity to learn and grow together. They’ll discuss how how adventuring into nature and bird-watching gives parents and their students a chance to reciprocate learning, and can provide you as a parent the opportunity to learn more about yourself, your child, and the amazing benefits of spending time outdoors.   “[Parents and children can] work together to explore nature in a more meaningful way. And just having that understanding that you’re both in this kind of beginner mindset. Even though you’re the adult, you don't have to be in teacher mode all the time. Sometimes you’re the learner, sometimes you’re the teacher. But embrace both of those roles, [and] really start with that story of y

Homeschool graduate Ben Porteous was a student at Harvard University when Harvard Magazine published an article calling for a ban on homeschooling—a shocking idea from a school that has historically welcomed homeschool graduates. Join Jim Mason (HSLDA President) and Ben as they discuss Ben’s experience as a homeschool graduate attending the elite university. Ben shares how homeschooling fostered his love of learning languages and history, eventually earning him the honor of delivering the Latin Salutatory at Harvard's 2022 commencement. “We were shocked that Harvard Magazine would stoop so low as to present such a sort of elementary stereotype [of homeschooling]. . . . I don’t think I encountered a single negative stereotype about homeschoolers at any point in my time as a Harvard undergraduate. . . . The response of the students and the faculty was incredibly positive.”—Ben Porteous

Handling animosity with a cool head can be extremely challenging—but it can also provide the opportunity for powerful change. Join Jim Mason (HSLDA President) and Claire Hungar, a homeschool graduate and a student at Yale Law School, as they discuss her experience with facing extreme opposition and hostility—specifically at a lecture event that she hosted on the university campus last year. “It’s weird going back into the law school and seeing the faces of my classmates and remembering that they booed me out of the law school. But I think that one thing positive has come from the whole situation. I think our classmates are maybe beginning to realize that shouting down speakers doesn’t mean that their voices won’t be heard. It just means that there's no opportunity to have dialog or engage. And I’ve been able to have some really productive conversations with some of my classmates about both that event, about events that we hosted later.”—Claire Hungar 

What is virtue, and why is it important? Join Jim Mason (HSLDA President) and Mike Schutt (Worldview Academy Executive Director) as they tackle difficult questions about foundational topics. They discuss the importance of developing a concrete worldview based on transcendent values while also examining the trendy alternatives.    “Working with high school students, you just see the shifts in culture. I’ve been teaching high school students at Worldview Academy for 20 years, and you see sort of a decline in biblical literacy, a different approach to authority, and the primacy of feelings. The first place we need to start is, ‘Okay, who are we? What does it mean to be a human person? And how do we know what our purpose is?’”—Mike Schutt 

What makes a good story? And what role does storytelling play in journalism? In this episode, HSLDA President Jim Mason talks with Dr. Les Sillars (Patrick Henry College Professor of Journalism) and Emma Perley (a journalism student at Patrick Henry College) about the creation of Doubletake, a new student-run podcast produced in collaboration with World News Group. They discuss the gargantuan effort required to produce an investigative podcast that effectively tells genuine and compelling stories.   “In order to tell a really good narrative story, you have to really know the people. You have to really do your research. You have to do the interviews. You have to really be thoughtful in the way that you approach these people’s stories because a lot of them are really difficult. . . . When you put together an hour-long podcast, you really get to the truth of things and you really can dig down deep into what's behind these people’s stories. Like what motivates them? What do they believe? What do they understan

When your family encounters difficult mental and emotional hurdles, homeschooling can give you the flexibility to step back and recalibrate. Join Sandra Kim (HSLDA Media Relations Director) and Carla Fuller (HSLDA Educational Consultant) for a conversation about how to recognize mental health issues in your family and how to leverage the flexibility of homeschooling to help you handle mental health–related challenges. “When a child is in a more traditional learning environment, they're constantly being compared to each other. In homeschooling, you get to set an understanding of who they are.  The standard of measurement for [your child] is not necessarily that I have this exact outfit, or I wear this specific kind of makeup, but who [they are] as a person, what [they] like to read, and the ideas that [they] have.”—Carla Fuller 

Are you a homeschool dad looking for encouragement and support? Join HSLDA President Jim Mason and blogger Robert Macias as they discuss homeschooling from a dad’s perspective. Robert shares some of his homeschooling experiences, as well as how he started a blog to help other homeschooling families navigate the early days of homeschooling.  “My wife said, ‘Hey, let’s homeschool, let’s try it out.’ So, I started looking into it and I noticed that there’s lots of information [for] mothers, but I couldn’t find anything about fathers. I did a lot more research and then we started doing some lessons after I picked up my son from kindergarten—just to let him try it out. [We did] 20, 30 minutes every evening just to get him used to having me teach him.”—Robert Macias 

Are you thinking about switching from public school to homeschooling? How do you know if homeschooling is a good fit for your family? Join Sandra Kim (HSLDA Media Relations Manager) and Kristy Horner (HSLDA Educational Consultants Program Manager), both homeschooling moms, as they examine common questions and concerns about homeschooling. Sandra and Kristy discuss ways to make the public-school-to-homeschool transition a success for your family, and they share lots of encouragement and practical advice you won’t want to miss!  “Initially when I was starting [homeschooling], I wanted it to look like school. I was trying to fill in this gaping hole of time and I drove myself crazy. What I realized is that homeschooling is actually incorporating your time [and] your life into school. And so, your life is also education. It took me a long time to realize that. So, for those of you who are considering [homeschooling], know this: it is in fact true. Your children will learn. I’m proof.”—Sandra Kim 

Imagine you are the President of the United States embroiled in a stand-off with a rival global superpower. What would you do? In this episode of Homeschool Talks, Jim Mason (HSLDA President) and Joel Grewe (HSLDA Action Executive Director) discuss how Generation Joshua, HSLDA Action’s teen civics program, gives high school students the opportunity to learn about politics and government—through in-depth political simulations. Grewe also shares stories (both humorous and insightful) from his experiences as a homeschool student and a homeschool dad.  “Honestly, a lot of students in America today, and frankly, a lot of people, are downright uncomfortable having a conversation with someone they’ve never met. I don’t find it terribly comfortable still, and I’ve been doing it for years; but it’s a skill that should be learned. Because at a certain point, as we grow up, we’re going to find ourselves in a place where we have to advocate for ourselves, for our family, and for our children.”—Joel Grewe