Advertise on podcast: It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Does your student freeze up when asked to write, discuss, or explain what they've learned? The 5 Common Topics are simple, powerful classical teaching tools that help students quickly recognize what they already know, make connections across subjects, and get further than they ever thought possible! Lisa and Gina Steffy from NTH explain how the 5 Common Topics work and how to use them in your homeschool, from kindergarten through high school.  📘 Want to go deeper? Grab 5 Common Topics: Not So Common Anymore!, a K–12 digital guide from True North Homeschool Academy.  🔗 Find more homeschool encouragement at notthathardtohomeschool.com

How to homeschool elementary kids, from someone who's done it for 30+ years! If you're wondering where to start with homeschooling K–5th grade, this beginner's guide walks you through the essentials. Veteran homeschool mom Lisa shares practical advice, what to expect at each developmental stage, and real-life examples to help you build a strong, confident foundation for your child's early education. You'll learn: ✔️ What matters most in the elementary homeschool years ✔️ How your child's development should shape what you teach ✔️ Practical tips for building structure without the overwhelm ✔️ Encouragement for new and struggling homeschool parents Whether you're just starting to homeschool or need a fresh dose of confidence, this episode will show you that homeschooling elementary kids really isn't that hard! 🔗 Find more homeschool resources at notthathardtohomeschool.com Like, share this episode, and subscribe for weekly episodes!

Nick Freitas joins Lisa for a powerful conversation about homeschooling and what it really means to raise kids in freedom. They talk about why parental choice in education matters now more than ever, how homeschooling connects to the bigger picture of personal liberty, and the practical wisdom Nick has picked up along the way. Whether you're homeschooling already or just curious about the movement, this episode will leave you inspired and informed. In this episode: Why parental choice in education is a cornerstone of freedom Nick's perspective on homeschooling's role in raising independent thinkers How personal liberty and education are more connected than you'd think Practical encouragement for homeschool families navigating today's landscape 🎧 Hit play and join the conversation! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more homeschool inspiration every week. Be sure to follow Nick Freitas!  Instagram Facebook  Community Chat  X  YouTube  TikTok

Can faith and neuroscience actually rewire your brain for better learning and mental health? Dr. Timothy Jennings says yes — and the science will surprise you. On this episode of It's Not That Hard to Homeschool, Lisa sits down with Dr. Timothy Jennings — board-certified neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author of The God-Shaped Brain and The God-Shaped Heart — to unpack how the brain's design shapes resilience, growth, and the way our kids learn. You'll walk away with a fresh, science-backed lens on faith, mental health, and education that changes how you think about homeschooling. In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ How the brain's design connects faith and mental health ✔️ What neuroscience reveals about building resilience in kids ✔️ Simple ways to apply Dr. Jennings' research to your homeschool 🤲 Join our homeschool group 📚 See our resources

New federal caps on student loan borrowing could change how families pay for high-cost professional degrees. This episode breaks down what the caps mean for kids pursuing medicine, law, nursing, and aviation—and what funding options can help fill the gap. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Homeschool Helps Printable Pack: The Homeschool Helps printable e-book includes a morning journaling sheet, life skills checklist for your teens, family meeting ideas, plus planner and logs sheet to help your organize your family time and your homeschool.

Gen Z has been called the loneliest generation — and it's not hard to see why. Between the rise of AI, social media, economic crisis, and the lasting effects of COVID-19, so many young people are facing real isolation and struggling mental health. In this week's podcast, Hannah and Lisa Nehring tackle some of the hardest conversations parents are facing—from suicide and identity to college, purpose, and the future our children are inheriting. It isn't always an easy discussion, but we believe it's one worth having. Because our kids don't simply need better grades. They need reasons to hope. Disclaimer: This conversation addresses difficult topics including suicide, abortion, mental health, and the challenges facing today's young adults. Our purpose is to help parents understand the world their children are growing up in—and to offer hope. Every child bears the image of God and has immeasurable value. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Homeschool Helps Printable Pack: The Homeschool Helps printable e-book includes a morning journaling sheet, life skills checklist for your teens, family meeting ideas, plus planner and logs sheet to help your organize your family time and your homeschool.

AI isn't coming—it's already here, reshaping how kids learn, research, and think. But what does that mean for the homeschool family sitting at the kitchen table? In this episode, we cut through the hype and the fear to ask the real question: is AI a threat to independent learning, or the biggest opportunity homeschoolers have ever had? Join Lisa as she sits down with Nancy Manos. Nancy is a graduated homeschool mom of two and host of the AI and Your Homeschool podcast, where she helps families navigate AI and technology with wisdom, discernment, and confidence. She homeschooled her daughters from preschool through high school and found it to be a rich, rewarding experience. For more than 20 years, she has had the honor of serving homeschool families at the local, state, and national level. Nancy is passionate about helping parents enjoy the journey and savor the gift of time with their children. She enjoys sharing practical encouragement through speaking, writing, and her podcast. Nancy and her husband James live in Gilbert, Arizona. Nancy's Website Nancy's YouTube Channel 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group!   🧾 Related Resources 👉 The Four Industrial Revolutions: A parent's guide from steam to AI 👉 Homeschool Helps Printable Pack: The Homeschool Helps printable e-book includes a morning journaling sheet, life skills checklist for your teens, family meeting ideas, plus planner and logs sheet to help your organize your family time and your homeschool.

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Math anxiety is a real thing: from low-level to full adrenaline responses. But it isn't the end! We can truly become confident students of math. Mathematics shouldn't be something to fear; it can actually be an enjoyable experience. Join Lisa as she speaks with Nathan King from CTC Math about how math anxiety is a real thing and how we can overcome it. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! CTC Math Website 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like.

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) What actually happens behind the scenes when you ask an AI a question? In this episode, we're joined by science instructors Sunshyn Hummel and Melissa Grande from True North Homeschool Academy for a fascinating — and eye-opening — conversation about the infrastructure powering the AI revolution. We break down what an AI data center actually is, how it differs from a traditional data center, and what's really going on the moment you hit "send." We also dig into the true energy cost of AI — including something most people never think about: water consumption. And because we believe in giving the full picture, we round out the conversation with a balanced look at the ways AI can actually help the environment. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 High School Graduation: How to Help Your Teen Prepare for the Next Season

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Join Lisa as she talks with Jonathan Brush, the founder of Be Unbound - an organization that gives a hybrid Christian education to highschoolers and recent grads to help prepare them for success after school. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! Be Unbound website! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 High School Graduation: How to Help Your Teen Prepare for the Next Season

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Join Lisa and two homeschool veteran teachers as they discuss America and it's exceptional history. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group!

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Most families aren't actually following an education plan — they're choosing classes one semester at a time and hoping it all works out. Then suddenly it's junior year… and everyone feels behind. In this episode, Lisa Nehring explains what an education pathway really is, why it matters more than ever in today's rapidly changing world, and how intentional planning can replace stress with clarity for both parents and students. Because the linear path is gone — but the intentional path is powerful! 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 High School Graduation: How to Help Your Teen Prepare for the Next Season

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Parents everywhere are asking: Is college still worth the cost? Does prestige equal competence? Are degrees translating into real skills? What happens if 25% of colleges close in the next decade? In this episode, we break down the educational shift happening right now — and what smart homeschool families are doing instead. This is not fear-based. It's clarity-based. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 High School Graduation: How to Help Your Teen Prepare for the Next Season

Episode Sponsors: CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) As homeschool parents, we push our kids to be smart and successful, but is that a recipe to help them build confidence? Lisa breaks down this concept and explains how to help kids feel confident to take hold of their future.  📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉 Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 Outside the Box Education: Homeschooling High School: This is more than just a guide; it's a companion for families who believe in the power of personalized education and are ready to explore the myriad paths to success beyond the traditional academic trajectory. 👉 Your Teen Is Thinking About the Future… But Still Feels Lost 👉 The True Cost of Education: Preparing Teens for the Future with Unbound

Episode Sponsors: CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Dual degrees are one of the smartest ways to give your child a major head start on college — and we have an incredible opportunity for you! Check out the dual degree link in the description. Join Lisa as she breaks down everything you need to know about dual enrollment and dual credit programs. Discover how these powerful pathways can help your kids get ahead, earn college credits while still in high school, save time and money, and set them up for success in college and beyond. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program: for students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool: EVERY mom can confidently, competently, and contentedly provide the complete high school education her teen needs. Join our Facebook Group! 🧾 Related Resources 👉Future Jobs Made Simple: A simple guide to the 150+ careers your homeschool teen could have in the future — and what training paths really look like. 👉 Dual Degree for Homeschoolers: Earn College + High School Credit