Advertise on podcast: Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill

You spent the summer planning your homeschool year. You chose the curriculum, mapped out the schedule, and pictured how everything would work. But now that you're living the plan, you're realizing that something isn't working quite the way you expected. So what do you do? Push through and hope things eventually click, or admit that it might be time to make a change? In this episode, Laney shares why having a plan is valuable—but being unwilling to change that plan can keep us from meeting our children's needs. She talks about how to recognize when a homeschool approach isn't working, how to decide whether to persevere or pivot, and how to make thoughtful adjustments without throwing out your entire plan. Drawing from her own experience homeschooling children with different strengths, interests, and learning needs, Laney shares practical examples of adapting assignments, separating subjects when necessary, and letting go of expectations about what homeschooling should look like. You'll also hear why flexibility doesn't mean abandoning consistency or lowering expectations. It's about paying attention to what your children need, identifying your learning goals, and choosing an approach that helps them grow. In this episode, you'll learn:How to recognize when your homeschool plan isn't working in real life.How to decide whether your child needs to persevere through a challenge or whether your approach needs to change.Why teaching multiple ages together doesn't mean every child needs identical assignments or expectations.How to make adjustments for different learning needs, including learning disabilities.What questions to ask before changing your curriculum, schedule, or routine.Why it's important to notice progress instead of focusing only on what's not working.How to let go of your original plan while remaining intentional about your children's education. Remember, you don't have to throw out your entire homeschool plan because one part isn't working. You also don't have to keep doing something simply because you already chose it. A faithful homeschool isn't one where everything goes according to plan. It's one where we keep paying attention, keep learning, and keep making thoughtful decisions for the children entrusted to our care. Questions to consider:Is there one part of your homeschool that isn't serving your child well right now?What is your child showing you?What is one thoughtful adjustment you could make? Resources:Join our free homeschool community Sign up for the Homeschool Better Together email list to be notified when the free Christmas Celebrations plans release. Join Elevate.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I just need to fix this homeschool,” this conversation might make you pause before you change another curriculum, schedule, chore chart, or routine. In this episode, Laney sits down with Emily Brown to talk about a question we’ve been hearing more and more around Homeschool Better Together: What exactly is mindset coaching, and what does it have to do with homeschooling? Emily explains what a mindset coach actually does—and why it has very little to do with someone telling you how to live your life. Instead, mindset coaching helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions so you can understand what is really happening underneath the problem you’re experiencing. And that matters in homeschool because the way we think about our kids, our time, our curriculum, our calling, and ourselves directly affects how we show up each day. Mindset isn't pretending everything is fineEmily is very clear about this. Mindset work isn't about sprinkling “positive thinking” over a difficult situation and pretending reality isn't hard. It's about separating the facts from the interpretation we've added to those facts. How faith fits into mindset coachingThis is an especially meaningful part of the conversation for the HBT community. Emily explains how her faith undergirds the way she approaches mindset coaching. She believes our brains and bodies were designed by God and that understanding how they work doesn't compete with faith—it can actually point us back toward the Creator. In this episodeWhat a mindset coach actually doesWhy mindset coaching isn't about someone telling you how to liveHow thoughts influence emotions and actionsWhy homeschool moms can feel trapped by their circumstancesThe difference between facts and our interpretation of factsHow mindset can uncover practical problems that actually need to be addressedWhy changing your thoughts doesn't mean ignoring realityHow mindset coaching fits with a Christian worldviewWhat mindset coaching can look like inside ElevateWhy community matters when you're trying to make lasting changeEmily's “Holy Spirit pause” for the overwhelmed homeschool mom Want to experience Emily's coaching for yourself?Emily offers mindset masterclasses and open coaching calls inside Elevate, alongside practical homeschool classes, community support, and other resources designed to help you homeschool with more confidence and less overwhelm. Resources MentionedHomeschool Consistency BootcampElevate

Have you ever found yourself reminding your kids about the same things over and over again? Finish your math. Stay focused. Check your schedule. Get back to work. Why aren’t you doing the thing we already talked about? Sometimes what looks like a behavior problem is actually a skill that hasn’t been developed yet. In today’s episode, I’m giving you a sneak peek inside one of Emily Brown’s recent Elevate mindset classes: School and Home Skill Building. Emily walks through five skills she believes kids need to practice in order to become more capable and independent—and five skills moms need to practice in order to create a healthier, more functional homeschool. And even after more than 20 years of homeschooling, I walked away with practical things I could use in my own home. In this episode:Why self-confidence is the belief that “I can do it or I can figure it out”Helping kids discover their own reasons for doing difficult thingsUsing goals to build independenceEmily's whiteboard system for helping her kids plan their dayHow to practice focus with small, achievable winsWhy kids need to know what “done” actually looks likeThe three-question evaluation Emily uses with her kidsHow moms can build belief in their childrenSetting reasonable and age-appropriate expectationsWhy constantly moving the finish line can break trustKeeping shame out of skill-buildingTaking responsibility for our own emotionsCelebrating our own wins as homeschool moms Mentioned in this episode:Elevate Membership: https://homeschoolbettertogether.com/elevate

What if the thing making you feel overwhelmed isn't that you're bad at managing your time? What if you just have too much on your plate? I know. Revolutionary. In this episode, I'm talking with Kayse Pratt of Anchored Women about something both of us have had to wrestle with: simplification. Kayse recently made a pretty dramatic change in her business. After 16 years of creating digital products, she found herself with 223 different products. And here's the kicker: the business whose entire mission was to help people simplify had created a product line that was actually making things more complicated. So Kayse did something that is not easy to do. She cut it down to four. And that decision got us talking about what happens when we look at our own lives and realize we've done the exact same thing. We've added good thing after good thing until our lives are completely packed. And then we wonder why we're exhausted. As homeschool moms, this can happen especially easily. We aren't just educating our kids. We're managing the house, feeding everybody, running people to activities, keeping up with relationships, serving at church, working jobs, and trying to maintain some semblance of spiritual life somewhere in the middle of all of it. So how do we know what needs to stay? And what are we actually allowed to let go? Kayse and I talk honestly about the difficulty of simplifying, why we sometimes have to "hit the wall" before we're willing to change, and what it looks like to trust God with the things we can't control. We also get very practical. We're talking about making decisions once instead of over and over again, using a Top Three list, simplifying meals, creating family rhythms, and recognizing that homeschool absolutely counts as one of the things taking up your time and energy. Because simplifying isn't about becoming more efficient so you can cram even MORE into your day. It's about making room for the things that actually matter. In this episode, you'll learn:Why adding good things can still leave you with an unsustainable lifeHow Kayse decided to cut Anchored Women from 223 products down to just fourWhy simplifying can be painful before it becomes life-givingHow to recognize when you're approaching the point where something needs to changeWhy homeschool belongs on your list of actual time and energy commitmentsHow making decisions once can dramatically reduce daily decision fatigueHow to use a simple Top Three system without pretending you have unlimited capacityWhy simple family rhythms can actually help your kids feel more secureHow to simplify meals without creating another complicated systemWhy we sometimes need to let go of good things to make room for better thingsHow pride and our desire for control can keep us from simplifyingWhat Psalm 23 has taught Kayse about trusting God instead of trying to make everything happen ourselvesWhy simplification isn't necessarily permanent—sometimes we're in a season of cutting back, and sometimes we're in a season of growth Mentioned in This Episode:Elevate--Support for the homeschool momAnchored Women (planning resources + community)The Steadfast Over Scattered PlannerBrain Dump and prioritize FREE Download

Are you doing everything “right” in your homeschool… and still wondering if you’re doing it right enough? In this episode, I’m talking with Jeanette Pascua, a longtime homeschool mom of five, former high school theology teacher, and the editor behind much of what we create at Homeschool Better Together. Jeanette has been homeschooling for about a decade, and her oldest is now in high school. That means she has something I think every homeschool mom desperately needs: perspective from the other side of the elementary years. Her homeschool looks pretty different today than it did when she started. Her kids are scattered around the house doing different things, her older children have significant control over their schedules, and the whole day feels much more relaxed. But it didn't start that way. We talk about what it actually takes to help our kids grow into independent learners, why independence looks different for every child, and how Jeanette gradually handed over pieces of her children's education instead of throwing them into the deep end. And then we get into something I think almost every homeschool mom has wrestled with: the pressure to do homeschooling “the right way.” Jeanette is a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, and she talks honestly about the pressure that she puts on herself to follow this method the way others prescribe that it "should" be done. Sound familiar? We also talk about letting go of the perfect plan, what happens when subjects or books fall off the schedule, and the surprising reassurance that comes from watching an older child move toward high school. Because sometimes you don't realize your homeschool is working until you get far enough down the road to look back. What You'll LearnHow Jeanette gradually transferred responsibility for school from herself to her kidsWhy independence doesn't look the same for every childHow to invite your kids into homeschool planning without handing them the whole steering wheelThe pressure to follow an educational philosophy “correctly”Why you need to homeschool the kids actually standing in front of youWhat happens when a book, subject, or entire chunk of your beautiful plan gets droppedHow reaching the high school years can give you a completely different perspective on your earlier homeschool worriesWhy a homeschool that looks relaxed from the outside may actually have a lot happening underneathHow homeschooling has shaped Jeanette into a gentler, more patient momAnd, naturally, whether iced coffee counts as a homeschool snack Jeanette also shares what she loves most about working behind the scenes at Homeschool Better Together—including the books she discovers while editing our curriculum plans. And if you've ever looked at your homeschool plan three months into the year and realized, Wait…we're not actually doing that subject anymore, you're definitely going to want to hear this conversation. One of my biggest takeaways from our conversation is this: balance in a homeschool isn't static. We're constantly adjusting. Sometimes something needs more attention, something else needs to take a back seat, and that's okay. That's not failure. That's homeschooling. Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Homeschool Better TogetherWonder StudiesScience TogetherLanguage Arts TogetherMystie Winckler at Simply ConvivialLittle WomenThe Chronicles of Narnia

Homeschooling is never a straight line. Seasons change, families grow, circumstances shift, and the way we teach our children evolves along the way. In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I talk with Betsy Cypress, one of the curriculum writers behind Homeschool Better Together, about what it means to truly learn alongside your children. Betsy shares her homeschool journey—from raising five children and graduating her oldest, to unexpectedly welcoming four additional students into her homeschool after the loss of a close friend. Through that season, she discovered even more deeply that homeschooling together isn’t just about making lessons easier—it’s about building relationships, creating community, and learning through life’s challenges. We also dive into the process behind creating Wonder Studies, including: why picture books can open the door to deeper learninghow curriculum can serve as a springboard rather than the finish linewhy conversations and connections often become the most meaningful parts of homeschoolinghow learning alongside your children changes the way you teachwhy consistency and loving kindness matter more than perfection Whether your homeschool has one child or many, whether you are adding students or watching them leave the nest, this conversation is an encouragement to embrace your current season and discover the wonder waiting there. What You’ll Learn:Betsy’s unique homeschool story and how her family adapted through major transitionsHow multi-age homeschooling can create connection and communityWhy learning alongside your children benefits both parents and kidsHow Wonder Studies help families explore topics through beautiful books and meaningful discussionEncouragement for homeschool moms who are trying to stay faithful in challenging seasons Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Wonder Studies https://homeschoolbettertogether.com/wonder-studies-annual-accessThrough Sand and Salt: A Tale of Discovery Across the Sahara by Elizabeth ZunonDeserts Wonder StudyThe William Hoy Story by Nancy ChurninBaseball Wonder StudyMagic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea WangJapan Wonder StudyAdventures with Waffles by Maria Parr

Ever found yourself eyeing someone’s “Pinterest pretty” homeschool and wondered if you’re missing something? Today, I’m sitting down with Katy Wallace—our very own graphic designer at Homeschool Better Together—to pull back the curtain on what “real” homeschooling actually looks like. Katy is not just a talented visual visionary—she’s an Alabama homeschool mom of teens, an accidental chicken-keeper, and someone who swore she’d never give up the corporate grind. (Spoiler: she did.) We’re getting personal about how both of us landed in the world of homeschooling when it was NOT on our radar, how our school days have shifted as our families have grown, and what happens when your high schoolers start flying the nest. Katy shares how her creative side spills into her homeschool days (yes, there was sidewalk chalk involved), and why she never joined a co-op—plus how she deals with comparison and all the “shoulds” that come with doing things a little differently. We laugh about slow mornings and Southern accents, dig into why beautiful curriculum actually makes a difference, and talk honestly about sanctification, flexibility, and how homeschooling will expose all your perfectionist tendencies…and why that’s not a bad thing. This one is for every homeschool mom who’s wondered if she’s the only one doing it her own way (hint: you’re not). Join us for a down-to-earth conversation that will leave you feeling encouraged, seen, and a lot less alone. What you’ll learn:Katy’s totally unexpected journey from corporate life to rural homeschool mom and graphic designerThe “normal” (and not-so-normal) homeschool days—slow mornings, morning baskets, and navigating high school independenceWhat actually changes (and what doesn’t) when your kids become teens and start dual enrollment or get part-time jobsWhy Katy never found a co-op that fit and how she avoids the comparison trapThe surprising impact beautiful curriculum design has on our homeschool mood and function (and how clutter really messes with us!)Pep talks on perfectionism, the myth of having it all figured out, and learning to embrace flexibility—even when you’re more “planner” than “free spirit”How faith, prayer, and real-life messiness shape our days more than the right planner or perfect routineHonest talk on the sanctifying work of homeschooling (it’ll grow you just as much as your kids) Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot (step-by-step planning system):The Elevate Program with Finishers Club + live planning accountability:Science TogetherHeaven is Having You by Giles AndreaeEpposumondas by Coleen Salley

Ever feel like your homeschool planner is just a guilt trip in a spiral binding? Been there, bought the (overly ambitious) boxed curriculum, cried all over it. In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on my own 23-year planning evolution—the good, the bad, and the “how did we get this far off track?” moments. If your school year starts hopeful, but quickly turns into a flip-and-flop scramble between “we’re already behind in math” and “wait, who moved the lesson plans again?”, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that tightrope between Pinterest-perfect plans and the reality of messy, beautiful family life. Today, I’m breaking down:Why your planning approach might actually be feeding your overwhelmThe not-so-glamorous backstory of my own planning fails (and what finally clicked)Why I finally ditched those one-size-fits-none grid schedules for a plan that actually works And yes—we’re going deep on my absolute favorite strategy: Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot. Honestly? Total game-changer for ditching the chaos, the guilt, and the endless Sunday-night planner panic. If you’re ready for practical peace, more consistent days, and just a tad more joy in your homeschool, you’ll find all kinds of hope in this conversation. What you’ll learn:How boxed curricula and rigid schedules can set you up for stress and comparison (yep, I lived it)The ugly truth about planning “shoulds” vs. what actually fits your real lifeWhy a big-picture vision beats lesson-plan whack-a-mole every timeThe simple shift that freed up my weekends—and gave me back my sanityHow to build a homeschool plan that’s flexible, realistic, and totally guilt-proofThe underrated superpower of periodic reviews and “just do the next thing” listsWhy planning in the summer is my secret weapon for a strong finish—no more mid-year meltdown Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot (step-by-step planning system): https://shop.homeschoolbettertogether.com/products/put-your-homeschool-year-on-autopilotThe Elevate Program with Finishers Club + live planning accountability: https://homeschoolbettertogether.com/elevate

Are you tired of feeling like you have to have all the answers (and keep every colored-pencil-coded planner page perfect)? You’re not alone—in fact, that’s exactly why we created Elevate. In today’s episode, I’m talking with Emily Brown, certified life coach and the new owner of Homeschool Better Together, about what moms REALLY need to thrive in their homeschool (spoiler: it’s not just the “right curriculum”). We’re opening up about decision fatigue, unrealistic expectations, self-doubt, burnout, and why you don’t have to go it alone. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re the only one struggling to stay consistent (or just wondered if you’re the only “normal” homeschool mom who hides in the laundry room to regroup), you’re going to feel seen. We also share how community, mindset shifts, and permission to invest in you breathe life into your homeschool journey. Plus, we spill all the details about Elevate—the new membership designed specifically to encourage, equip, and connect homeschool moms, all year long. What you’ll learn:The biggest struggles homeschool moms face—beyond curriculum (and why no one talks about them enough)Why community and mentorship are game-changers for your peace and confidenceWhat unrealistic expectations and “mom guilt” really cost us (and what to do instead)Practical ways to feed your mind, heart, and faith—even in the most chaotic seasonsHow to spot and break out of the “I don’t know” spiral (it’s not you, it’s decision fatigue)What you actually get inside Elevate (and why we’re obsessed with making it affordable and flexible)Tips for getting real support (free or paid) so you never feel isolated again Resources mentioned:Join the free Homeschool Better Together CommunityElevate Membership: access to masterclasses, co-working, mentorship, and ongoing support (now open!): https://homeschoolbettertogether.com/elevate/

Are you craving more connection and less chaos in your homeschool life? This week, I got to sit down with the brilliant Dawn Garrett, Homeschool Better Together’s community manager and an experienced homeschool mom whose kids have all graduated and flown the nest. (Yes, she survived—she’s living proof.) We got candid about what “togetherness” really looked like in her homeschool. Dawn shared the honest ups and downs: the seasons when being together at the table was the perfect fit—and the moments when togetherness just wasn’t working. Hear how she pivoted, created new rhythms, faced those inevitable sibling squabbles, and nurtured the deep family bonds that have lasted well into her kids’ adulthood. We also dug into the importance of community for moms—especially when overwhelm strikes. Dawn dishes on finding mentors, being encouraged by fellow homeschoolers, and how relationships with both your kids and other moms are what really matter, long after the worksheets are graded. This one is jam-packed with real talk, encouragement, and more than a few laugh-out-loud stories—because let’s be honest, if you’ve never measured your day by whether someone’s book crossed “the tape line” at the kitchen table, are you even homeschooling? What you’ll learn:Dawn’s “origin story”—why she went all-in on homeschooling (spoiler: the desire started long before kids arrived)The power of morning time as the anchor for their best homeschool days—and what happened when she had to let it goWhy being together is beautiful… until it isn’t (and how to recognize when it’s time to try something new)The messy, hilarious reality of sibling relationships at home (and the infamous masking tape table trick)How the atmosphere you create—over years—helps kids remain connected long after graduation (yes, even when you thought they might never stop bickering)Simple, practical ways to foster relationships, reconciliation, and wonder at your homeschool table—even on days you want to wave the white flagWhy community with other homeschool moms is essential for your sanity, confidence, and growth (plus, Dawn’s tips for finding true connection—even if it’s online)What to do when you’re in the thick of overwhelm: where to focus, what to drop, and how to “step out of the chaos and into the wonder.” Mentioned in this episode:Cindy Rollins’ resourcesAmbleside Online (for Charlotte Mason inspiration)The Homeschool Better Together Community Your Next Steps:Ready to build honest, lasting relationships in your homeschool? Join our free online community for encouragement, resources, and real connection.Never miss an episode! Be sure to follow, subscribe, and leave a review so you don’t miss what’s next.Find out more about Homeschool Better Together resources for your best homeschool year.

Ready to finally break free from the relentless go-go-go of homeschool mom life and actually feel rested again? (Nope, that nagging to-do list doesn't count.) In this episode, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of my own summer shift—from noisy productivity to a slower, more soul-filling kind of rest. Here's the not-so-secret truth: most of us homeschool moms are absolutely terrible at resting. I know I am. Give me an empty summer calendar, and suddenly I’m knee-deep in a bedroom declutter, my head bursting with more projects than I could possibly finish. Meanwhile, my kids are doing exactly what summer’s meant for: slowing down, savoring, sleeping in, play, and a little joyful loafing. Why is it so hard for us to join them? This week, I’m reflecting on what rest really means (hint: it's way deeper than a rare solo trip to Target). There’s “day at the spa” rest, sure—but even more, there’s the everyday spiritual and emotional rest Jesus offers. I’m sharing practical habits I’m actively working on—like journaling in my Bible, being intentional with what I choose to read (and what inputs I allow!), slowing down my audiobooks (yes, really), and actually carving out margin to just...be quiet. Maybe you’ll hear something that sparks your own personal “rest” list. Want to create habits of rest, not just wish for them? Grab your notebook. Let’s do it. What you'll hear in this episode:The honest confession: why “rest” never makes it to the top of my list—and what changed this summer.The four types of exhaustion (and why it matters for homeschool moms).What spiritual rest really looks like (spoiler: it’s not a spa day).My personal “habits of rest” list for summer—including practical, small ways to slow down.Choosing your “inputs” and why intentionality matters for an overwhelmed mind.How to reclaim quiet reflection and model healthier rhythms for our kids.The “shutdown practice” I’m experimenting with to protect my evenings and my sanity. Resources mentioned:Tired of Being Tired by Jess ConnollyMatthew 11:28-30Journaling BibleKayse Pratt’s Weekly Reset System on sale through June 30, 2026!Previous episode with Kasey Pratt on monthly planning Your turn:What would make your own "habits of rest" list?Which type of exhaustion is loudest in your life right now?Share your list or reflections in our homeschool community!

Ever bribe your kids with snacks just so everyone gets through “group time” without a meltdown? Been there, done that. For a long time, I thought the best way to cut the chaos was to keep my kids separated—both in life and in homeschooling. Spoiler: All that did was up my stress and leave my relationships running on empty. In this episode, I’m getting super honest about how I finally embraced the real meaning behind “homeschool better together.” From my early days of keeping squabbling siblings apart (for my own sanity) to the messy, miraculous shift of bringing everyone to the table, I’m sharing what it actually takes to create a peaceful, connected homeschool—and why it’s absolutely not just about the academics. We’ll talk about the nitty-gritty of navigating sibling drama, the emotional marathon that is homeschooling, and why mom-friends (the ones in the trenches with you) matter just as much as your lesson plans. Plus, I’ll share the “aha” moment that connected the dots between running an ultramarathon and needing community as a homeschool mom. Whether you’re burned out from breaking up arguments, longing for real support, or just want a homeschool that feels less lonely, this episode is for YOU. What you'll learn:Why “homeschooling together” used to terrify me (and what changed)The hidden pitfalls of separating siblings for “peace”How bringing your kids together shapes more than just academics—it builds character and relationshipsThe messy, slow process of learning to guide sibling conflict, not just survive itWhy finding your homeschool “people” (peer or mentor) is vital—and not just a nice-to-haveWhat running an ultramarathon taught me about support, encouragement, and shared strugglePractical encouragement for moms who feel isolated, exhausted, or unsure “together” will ever work Your Next Steps:Join our email list to be the first to hear the details about the Homeschool Better Together Elevate Program (doors opening this summer)! Sign up for the email list here and receive our free planning pages.Feeling stuck and alone? Join our supportive, online community for free!Share this episode with a homeschool mom who needs to know she’s not alone

Is anyone else feeling that mix of excitement and nerves when big changes come to your favorite corner of homeschool internet? Yep, us too. But today’s episode is about pulling back the curtain (no Pinterest-perfect backdrops here) and inviting you to meet the heart behind Homeschool Better Together’s next chapter. Today I (Laney) sit down with Emily Brown—homeschool mom, longtime superfan, certified life coach, and now, (drumroll, please), the new owner and lead cheerleader for Homeschool Better Together. We dive into her real-life journey from “absolutely-not-ever-homeschooler” to full-circle homeschooling advocate, how she found herself unexpectedly running the show, and what’s staying the same (spoiler: most things, including the curriculum you love) as well as what new encouragement and support is coming your way. If you crave reassurance about the future, or just want to feel seen in the not-so-shiny parts of homeschool life, this conversation is for you. Expect honest stories, a few laugh-out-loud moments about meltdown drop-offs, and the kind of practical wisdom that grows from messy beginnings (and seven kids in eight years—send coffee). What you’ll learn:Emily’s honest story: how she ended up leading the community that resonated with her heart when she found herself in the midst of homeschooling even after she swore "she would never."The #1 reason her family finally committed to homeschooling—and why “togetherness” is still the core of everything at HBT.How burnout, school drop-off tears, and self-doubt actually forged her style and shaped her heart for helping other moms.What’s NOT changing at Homeschool Better Together (curriculum, community, all the laughter, all the Narnia units, and the support you count on).A sneak peek into Elevate: opening to more moms, more often, with the same “moms in the trenches” mentorship you love—plus Emily’s special blend of life coaching know-how.Why Homeschool Better Together will always be run by real homeschoolers, for real homeschoolers—no fake, no pressure, just practical joy.Emily’s vision for building a culture where the number one lesson isn’t “do it right,” but “build the relationships first." Resources & Next Steps:Keep an eye out for new Narnia language arts units, upcoming science plans, plus a curriculum bundle coming soon. While you wait, check out our titles available now! Language Arts Together: The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeLanguage Arts Together: The Magician's NephewLanguage Arts Together: The Silver ChairScience Together: Physical Science Bundle Curious about Elevate, Bootcamp, curriculum releases, or community news? Make sure you’re on the email list. Sign up here and receive our free planning pages.

Are your kids dragging their feet when it comes to writing? You’re far from alone. This week on Homeschool Better Together, Laney Homan sits down with Joshua Davidson—children’s author and co-founder of Night Zookeeper—to unpack why so many kids lose their early love for creativity, and, most importantly, how we can spark that joy (and confidence) again, even for the most reluctant writers. Joshua shares a behind-the-scenes look into how creativity and story play a critical role in confidence building—not just on paper, but in your child’s sense of self. We talk about the science behind why kids start doubting their creative abilities (especially around ages 7–8), the difference between praise-based and skills-based confidence, and why stories can help even literal, “grandpa before their time” thinkers start to unlock imaginative worlds. Laney also gets honest about her goal-oriented, checklist mindset (raise your hand if you’re with me) and how it can unintentionally sap the joy from our homeschool days. There are plenty of practical ideas you can try today—whether your child needs a gentle push into creative writing, a safe space for self-expression, or just permission to invent the next great “kickboxing tiger.” Yes, that’s a thing! Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll learn:Why writing is so dang hard for kids (it’s not just them!)The age when children typically get self-conscious… and what to do about itHow creative expression anchors real confidence—not just loud “look at me” energyThe surprising link between storytelling, play, and long-lasting self-awarenessTips for helping both wildly imaginative and “black-and-white thinker” kids get unstuckNew ways to use character-building (without forcing kids to produce yet another story)How to leverage positive peer feedback—even when you’re homeschooling soloThe difference between praise-based confidence (“Good job!”) and skills-based confidence (the kind that actually lasts) Resources Mentioned:Night Zookeeper programSir Ken Robinson (on creativity)Homeschool Better Together’s Language Arts Together program Your Next Steps:Check out Night Zookeeper for a playful, confident approach to writingTry building writing sessions around character creation—or let kids expand on their favorite movie/book character adventuresEmbrace “imperfect” creative sessions—sometimes that wild made-up word is the best thing your family will remember Ready for more encouragement and practical tools? Join our free homeschool community. For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/stop-killing-creativity

Are you stuck in a cycle of “start strong, fizzle fast” with your homeschool? Are the cries of “I’m behind!” and “Why can’t I stick with anything?!” becoming the theme music of your year? You’re not failing—consistency is just a muscle you haven’t built… yet. In this episode, I open up about my early homeschool years: the chaos, the comparison, and the myth that “the right curriculum” could fix everything. Spoiler: it didn’t. But finding a perfection-proof, real-life approach to showing up—imperfectly!—changed everything for my family (and me). We’re talking trading overwhelm for stability, and self-doubt for steady progress… without rigid schedules, toxic guilt, or soul-sucking lesson plans. If you’re ready to gently but firmly stake your claim on steady routines—with or without a shiny sink—this episode is your permission slip. We also dive into what actually works (hint: it’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things regularly), why “trying again tomorrow” isn’t a sign you’ve failed, and how community + accountability are real game-changers when the going gets tough. Plus, I’ll walk you through my big mindset shift from chasing homeschool “success” to focusing on faithfulness—and how that tiny shift ripples out to everyone in your home. What you’ll learn:How ditching perfection unlocked real consistency in my homeschool (and sanity!)Why curriculum isn’t the answer to homeschool frustrationPractical, baby-step strategies to build routines you can actually keepThe difference between “showing up” and doing “all the things” (and why that matters)How consistency brings security, independence, and fewer battles for your kidsWhy real accountability (not just another checklist) made all the differenceHow to start small and protect your non-negotiables—no matter how messy life isThe surprising connection between faithfulness, community, and homeschool peace Resources mentioned:Homeschool Consistency Bootcamp hosted by Dawn Garrett and Emily Brown: https://homeschoolbettertogether.com/consistencyFlyLady (shine your sink!): https://flylady.net/ To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.