Homeschool Talks: Ideas And Inspiration For Your Homeschool

Are you looking for a substantive and comprehensive economics course for your homeschooled high school student? Join HSLDA President Jim Mason in a conversation with economist, writer, and educator David Bahnsen. Bahnsen is the founder of the Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm. In this discussion, David highlights the need for pre-collegiate economics education and provides details about a free course he developed that is perfect for high school!   “It comes down to a belief in incentives. I don’t believe human beings need very many incentives to consume. . . . Production is the part that requires incentive. And I think in production . . . is the heart of what we’re going for, that mankind finds internal satisfaction in being a producer and is driving economic growth by doing so.”—David Bahnsen 

Are you wondering how to ignite your child’s love for learning? Kids are naturally curious, and homeschooling offers an amazing opportunity to foster your child’s individual curiosity. Join Sandra Kim (HSLDA Media Relations Director) and LaNissir James (HSLDA Educational Consultant) for this episode as they share how homeschooling can make learning fun, how it allows kids to pursue their unique interests, and how it even lets you share your own passions with your kids!   “When they’re trying and trying and they’re not getting it, whether it be math, science, history, or English, no matter what it is that they’re not getting, sometimes you need to press the reset button. They say nobody’s on all the time. And guess what? Everything works better when you power it off and turn it back on.”—LaNissir James 

Homeschooling isn’t all about academics–it can be a chance to help your kids build all kinds of skills: executive functioning, social ability, conflict resolution, and more!  Join homeschool moms Sandra Kim (HSLDA Media Relations Director) and Heather Frommack (HSLDA Director of Outreach & Educational Consultants) to learn how homeschooling is an opportunity to help kids become well-developed people! They’ll share helpful research, explain how they’ve helped their kids mature, and answer listener questions.   “One of the things that that we did as a homeschool family that really had a positive impact on our conflict resolution was this idea of ‘parlor time.’ We had a room in our house we called the parlor. And if there was conflict between anybody, we would go into that room and process that [conflict]. And we would wait there until we had a healthy resolution. And my grown kids have come back to me and said that time has taught them a lot about conflict resolution that they’re using in their friend

Are you curious if homeschooling is a good fit for your family? Join Sandra Kim (HSLDA’s Media Relations Director and homeschool mom) and Kelly Edwards (from 90-Minute School Day) for a conversation about one of the gifts that comes with the homeschooling lifestyle: more family time! They’ll discuss how homeschooling doesn’t have to mirror a traditional school day, and how it allows you to build closer relationships within your family.   “Part of building a family culture is doing life together. If you have your children in the public school system, I can understand why you’re doing the laundry, because their schedules are so jam-packed, especially if they have extracurricular activities. But when you’re at home, you’re able to delegate and teach. So, I’m like, ‘Hey, we’re all part of the same team. We all live here; we all make the mess. And so, in our household, everybody has something to do with the laundry.’” — Kelly Edwards 

Are you a military homeschool family looking for a support group? In this episode, Natalie Mack (HSLDA Military Outreach Coordinator) and Darren Jones (HSLDA Group Services Director) discuss the importance of joining a support group as a military homeschool family, as well as how HSLDA can help you get connected! Stay tuned for these upcoming topics in future Homeschool Talks episodes: How homeschooling can give your family more time together How homeschooling can ignite a love of learning in your child  Transitioning from public school to homeschooling 

Have you ever watched a Blimey Cow video on YouTube? Join Generation Joshua’s Deputy Director Jeremiah Lorrig in a fascinating conversation with Blimey Cow co-founder Josh Taylor as they discuss the emergence of the hugely popular Blimey Cow YouTube channel and the homeschool roots that contributed to its success. Josh also reveals exciting details about their new project Homeschool With Us, which aims to directly serve the homeschooling community. “If you notice that your kid wants to do something or is interested or excited about something, regardless of how silly or ridiculous it seems, just have at it. . . . No matter how ridiculous it seems or unfeasible or whatnot, just let them do whatever it is that that you can tell makes them feel alive and join them in it. Show excitement and pride that they're working on it.”—Josh Taylor 

Do you want your homeschool group to be more welcoming for families with special needs? Join Darren Jones (HSLDA Director of Group Services), Faith Berens (HSLDA Special Needs Consultant), and Peggy Ployhar (SPED Homeschool Founder/CEO) for inspiring ideas and encouraging approaches to creating an inviting and supportive environment for families with special needs.

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 

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? 

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 

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.  

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.

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 

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!

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 

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 

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

Have a child who loves to tinker or always seems to have some experiment running? Join Carol Becker (HSLDA High School consultant) and Michelle Moody from The Homeschool Scientist for a great discussion on incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math into your homeschool.

How is homeschooling different now than in the early days, and what lessons can different generations of homeschooling parents learn from one another? Today on Homeschool Talks, join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason for Part 2 of a conversation with author, speaker, and homeschooling pioneer Zan Tyler.

What was it like to homeschool before this educational choice was accepted as legal? Today on Homeschool Talks, join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason for Part 1 of a conversation with author, speaker, and homeschooling pioneer Zan Tyler. In this episode, Zan tells the story of her completely unexpected, but integral role in the early movement for homeschool freedom in South Carolina—and the many challenges she faced along the way.