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Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about what we and our listeners wish we could change about our homeschools. We recently asked our listeners what the one thing they would change about their homeschool would be, and we got some really interesting answers. We’re talking about everything from consistency and expectations to having more help with little ones, simplifying high school, and even wishing the years would slow down. We’ll share some of those answers and talk about what we can learn and we hope this is an encouraging and relatable conversation for you! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile during math! So go check out a free trial at www.teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Debbie is back to share more underrated homeschool curriculum recommendations, plus we’ll be answering listener questions, including whether writing and spelling are really important and what to do when you get off to a rough start to the school year. If your school year hasn’t gone quite the way you hoped, you’re looking for something different with your homeschool curriculum, or you just need some encouragement, then this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for sponsoring the Smiling Homeschooler! If you want a math curriculum that helps you and your children smile more during math, go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com! Also, thank you to Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare, where members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, “We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries.” You can learn more about Redeem HealthShare at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman. Have a great week, and don’t forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! What are some of the most underrated homeschool curriculum options out there? And what are some of the subjects that we tend to forget about in our homeschools? This week, Debbie Wilson joins us to talk about some of her favorite underrated curriculum picks and the subjects that may not always get the attention they deserve. We talk about practical skills like budgeting and typing, along with other things that can help prepare our kids for life beyond their homeschool years. We also answer questions from moms who need a little encouragement and advice as they navigate the challenges of homeschooling. If you’re looking for some new curriculum ideas or wondering if there are subjects you might be overlooking, this is a great episode to check out! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile during math! So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we have a great episode from the archives where Ben was joined by his mom, Debbie Wilson, to talk about getting off to a good start this school year. Since we’re officially past Labor Day, wee thought this would be a really helpful episode to revisit. Debbie shares her recommendations, practical advice, and even some of her curriculum choices. And as always, her wisdom and encouragement make this a great conversation! We hope you have a great start of the school year! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are the math curriculum that our family uses, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile during math. So go check out a free trial over at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at samaritanministries.org/familyman    Have a great week, and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! One of the great things about homeschooling is that we have the freedom to make learning fun. But sometimes there is pressure to make every day feel fun. But is that realistic, and do our kids need to love every subject? And is it okay if some days are just about sitting down, doing the work, and getting it done? Today we’re talking about how fun a normal homeschool day should actually be, and how we can find a healthy balance between making homeschooling enjoyable and getting stuff done. We want Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Writing is one of those things that we spend a lot of time teaching our kids, but sometimes we think we can lose sight of why we're actually doing it. Not every child is going to grow up to be an author. So what does good writing really look like, and how much do our kids actually need in this day and age? The reality is that writing is something we use all throughout normal life. Whether it's sending an email, filling out an application, communicating at work, explaining an idea, or simply being able to clearly put your thoughts into words, being able to write well is a really useful skill. But it can also be one of the most difficult subjects to teach and to get your children to enjoy. So Our goal is to give some tips, encouragement, and ideas to help make writing a more enjoyable subject. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at www.SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! One of the questions we get asked all the time is, “What homeschool curriculum should I use?” And with all of the options out there, it can feel like you have to find that one perfect curriculum that’s going to make homeschooling work. So today we’re joined by Debbie Wilson to talk about some of the things you should actually consider when choosing curriculum. Things like how much time and effort it takes, how your kids learn, and what fits your family well. Hopefully, this will take some of the pressure off and help you feel a little more confident about finding what works for you. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year! So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at www.samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are glad you’re joining us this week. We are getting closer and closer to the start of a new school year, and over the next few weeks, we’re going to be doing a little series talking about some of the things that homeschool families are thinking about as they get ready to jump back into another year of homeschooling. And today, we’re talking about homeschool co-ops and how to pick the best one for your family. Co-ops are one of those things that can be a really great part of homeschooling for some families, but they can also bring a lot of questions. Should we join one? What are the benefits? What are some of the downsides? How much time are we really going to have to commit? And maybe most importantly, is a co-op actually a good fit for our family? We’ve had our own experiences with co-ops over the years, and today we want to talk through some of the things we’ve learned, some of the things we love about them, and some of the things you probably want to think about before signing your family up for one. We hope you are encouraged by our conversation, and if you know a mom who is on the fence about co-ops or new to homeschooling, maybe share this episode with them! We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at https://samaritanministries.org/familyman Lastly, don't forget to take advantage of the 60 free days of World Watch News by clicking this link and using code Todd30 at checkout! https://app.worldwatch.news/checkout/new?o=203231&coupon=TODD30 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are so glad you're here! This week we're tackling a question that I think just about every homeschool parent has asked at one time or another: Am I doing enough? If my kids never are taught chemistry or calculus, or they don't become fluent in a foreign language, have I somehow failed them? There can be so much pressure to check every box and keep up with everyone else's expectations. But is that really what homeschooling is about? Today we're talking about how to handle those doubts, and how to have confidence in the education you're giving your children, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is trust the unique path God has called your family to. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at samaritanministries.org/familyman Lastly, don't forget to take advantage of the 60 free days of World Watch News by clicking this link and using code Todd30 at checkout! https://app.worldwatch.news/checkout/new?o=203231&coupon=TODD30 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! We are so glad you decided to join us this week. We're talking about the fact that some of the most valuable education our kids receive doesn't happen while sitting behind a desk. Whether it's playing sports, working a part-time job, cooking, volunteering, learning a trade, or pursuing a hobby, there are so many opportunities for our children to grow in ways that go far beyond academics. We're also excited to be joined by Tatton Strassheim from World Watch News. With so much information coming at us every single day, it can be difficult to know what really matters. We'll be talking about how to cut through all the noise, stay informed without living in fear, and help our kids develop wisdom and discernment as they learn about what's happening around the world. If you would like to sign up for a free 60 days use this link and use code Todd30 at checkout! But before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare at samaritanministries.org/familyman. Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast. This week, we're talking about something that is true for almost every homeschool mom, and that is doubt. Whether it comes from social media, well-meaning friends and family, or even the voice in your own head, it's easy to wonder if you're doing enough or making the right decisions for your kids. The truth is, we all have voices competing for our attention. The real question is: which ones are we choosing to listen to? This week, we're talking about how to feed hope instead of fear, how to respond when others criticize your homeschooling journey, and how we can encourage not only ourselves but the families around us. We'll also share a listener's email that perfectly captures the struggle so many homeschool parents experience and why choosing confidence over comparison can make all the difference. As always, our goal is to leave you encouraged But before we start, we want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.   Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries and get a free quote over at samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week is a special Todd epsidode as he tackles a question many parents ask themselves: Is it really possible to do it all? He shares his thoughts on the stress of trying to juggle homeschooling, family life, work, and everything else that fills our days and offers some practical encouragement about focusing on what matters most instead of trying to keep every ball in the air. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. They're the math curriculum that helps homeschoolers smile—and the one our family uses! You can learn more and support them at TeachingTextbooks.com. Today's show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem HealthShare. Their members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another by sharing one another's healthcare needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about Redeem HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at SamaritanMinistries.org/FamilyMan. Have a great week, and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we're talking about something that every family has, whether they realize it or not, and that is a family culture. Every home has its own personality. Some families revolve around sports, others around academics, work, or adventure. The real question isn't whether you have a family culture; it's whether you're intentionally building the one you want. What values are your kids picking up from your home? What traditions are shaping them? And what kind of family do you hope they'll remember years from now? Join us as we discuss why family culture matters, how it impacts your children, and some practical ways you can begin intentionally building a home that reflects the values you want to pass on for generations. But don't worry, as always, this is going to be an encouraging conversation! We want Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries." You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries at www.samaritanministries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're celebrating America's 250th birthday! As the Fourth of July approaches, we're talking about what makes our country so special, why we should never take the freedom to homeschool our children for granted, and how we can help our kids appreciate the blessings we enjoy. We also share some of our favorite American historical sites to visit and reflect on why this holiday is about so much more than fireworks and cookouts. We hope this episode encourages you to celebrate with gratitude and make some great memories with your family. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and Redeem Healthshare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0   Have a great week and a Happy 4th of July, and don't forget to smile!

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we're talking about something that can be really easy to overlook in the middle of homeschooling, parenting, work, and everything else life throws at us, which is our marriage. When the days are filled with lesson plans, laundry, meals, activities, and trying to keep the house from completely falling apart, it's easy for your relationship to become more about managing a family than actually enjoying each other. But a healthy marriage doesn't happen by accident, and it's one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids. On this episode, we are joined by Debbie Wilson to share some practical ideas that have helped us stay connected to our spouses through the busy seasons, along with a few simple reminders that have made a big difference for us. We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for all of their support of the Smiling Homeschooler. They are one of the best math curriculums around, and we believe they help more homeschoolers smile, and you should use their math curriculum for this school year. So go check them out at teachingtextbooks.com.  Today’s show was also underwritten by Samaritan Ministries and REDEEM HealthShare. Where Members are committed to honoring Christ and serving one another through health care needs. As Todd likes to say, "We use, love, and recommend Samaritan Ministries. You can learn more about REDEEM HealthShare by Samaritan Ministries here https://hubs.ly/Q03VZL7c0 Have a great week and don't forget to smile!