Advertise on podcast: HOMESCHOOL GLUE || Real-Life Simple Systems + Rhythms for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms

When life gets really hard, the advice is almost always the same: take a break. And sometimes that’s the right call. But in two of the hardest seasons of her life — one involving a devastating family crisis and one involving a brand new baby — Sarah discovered that stopping was actually harder than continuing. And it had everything to do with the rhythms she had already built. This episode is different from the others. No tips, no frameworks — just two honest, personal stories about what systems actually look like when life falls apart. And why building them before the hard times come is one of the most important things you can do for your family. If you know a homeschool mom in a hard season right now, send her this one. Links: •        Free Starter Glue-Print •        Follow on Instagram

If you spend an hour planning your homeschool every Sunday, that’s 30-36 hours a year rebuilding the same week over and over. This year Sarah spends about five minutes a week. In this episode she explains exactly how and why the Sunday rebuild keeps happening even after years of homeschooling. You’ll hear Sarah walk through her own weekly rhythm in detail, how she handles curriculum with a built-in five-day schedule (and compresses it to four days), and how she uses a list-based approach like Ambleside Online without having to re-plan every week. Plus a puzzle analogy that makes the whole system finally click. This episode builds on episodes one through three — start there if you’re new. Links: •        Free Starter Glue-Print •        Daily Riches curriculum (free sample week included)  •        Buds, Blooms + Bees science curriculum •       Seashore Science curriculum •        Morning Menus •        Classy Artist Box (use code HomeschoolGlue for 20% off first subscription order) •       Ambleside Online (free Charlotte Mason curriculum) •        Simply Charlotte Mason •        Episode about Quiet Time •        Episode 001 — The Hidden Curriculum Running Your Homeschool •        Episode 002 — You Are Not Bad at Homeschooling •        Episode 003 — The Real Reason Your Homeschool Still Feels Chaotic •        Follow on Instagram

Have you ever tried to fix your homeschool (new planner, new curriculum, new schedule) and wondered why nothing is actually changing? There’s a good reason for that. You might be solving the wrong problem. In this episode Sarah breaks down the three types of homeschool overwhelm — volume, decision, and emotional — and why the solution to each one looks completely different. Most moms are treating the wrong type, which is why the same fixes keep not working. Once you can name which one you’re actually dealing with, everything gets a lot clearer. This episode also includes a real-life example of subtraction in action — what Sarah dropped from her own homeschool this week and why, plus practical starting points for each type of overwhelm. Links: •        Free Starter Glue-Print PDF •        Shop all resources •        Follow on Instagram

You are not bad at homeschooling. I know that might sound like something you’d scroll right past on Instagram — but stay with me. Because being bad at something and being overwhelmed by something are two completely different things with completely different causes and completely different solutions. And most of us have had them confused for a very long time. In this episode Sarah breaks down what being overwhelmed by homeschooling actually looks like (hint: it has nothing to do with being lazy or not caring enough), why the label you put on it matters more than you think, and what the real solutions are — none of which require you to be a different person or try harder at things that aren’t working. This one comes with a permission slip. You’re going to want to listen. Note: If you haven’t listened to Episode 001 yet, start there first — this episode builds on it. Links: •       Episode 001 — The Hidden Curriculum Running Your Homeschool (listen first — this episode builds on it) •        Shop all Homeschool Glue resources — homeschoolglue.com/shop •        Receive my weekly email newsletter with behind-the-scenes reflections, homeschool tips and ideas, and more! •        Follow on Instagram — @homeschoolglue

Right now — whether you’re actively homeschooling or not — there’s a curriculum already running your homeschool. You didn’t choose it from a catalog. But your kids are being shaped by it every single day. In this first episode of the relaunched Homeschool Glue Podcast, I break down what the hidden curriculum actually is (hint: it’s the atmosphere of your home), why it matters more than any lesson plan you’ll ever write, and what you can actually do to make it work for you instead of against you. This one is for the mom who is exhausted in a way that goes beyond just being tired. The mom who knows it matters and feels the weight of that every single day. Not a perfect mom. A peaceful one. That’s what we’re building here. Links: •  Shop all Homeschool Glue resources •  Daily Riches — open-and-go Charlotte Mason rich subjects curriculum, ~20 minutes a day, family-style, 4 days a week •  Buds, Blooms + Bees — living-books botany science, perfect for spring and summer •  Seashore Science — living-books ocean science, perfect for summer •  Join my email list — hear about sales and new resources before anyone else Sale — this week only: Everything in the Homeschool Glue shop is 20% off through Saturday March 29th at 11:59pm. No code needed — the discount is already applied at checkout.

Every once in a while it's fun to switch things up and answer some of your questions on the podcast!  Over on Instagram, I encouraged followers to submit questions, and submit they did!  In this episode I'm answering questions like, "Was homeschooling always in your plans?" and "Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough?" among many others! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Winter Indoor Survival GuideQuiet Time Podcast EpisodeGames Highlight on IGAlphabet Go FishRaccoon RumpusSneaky Snacky Squirrel GameTea Party GameKing's CornerSkip BoQwixxHues and CuesTaco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Many homeschool families begin their journey because they realize, either before sending their kids to school or after their kids are in school, that they don't like certain aspects of the school system.  Everyone's journey is different, but many parents stay away from schools because there are things within the school system they do not like or want for their children.  In other words, they start homeschooling by running "from" something at the schools.  There is nothing wrong with this!  However, at some point, we should stop running "from" things and starting "to" something new and better.  In this episode, I break down this idea and give my own examples of things we are no longer running "from" and instead share the things we are running "to" to help you come up with your own list.  This really helps us reflect upon our homeschool journey and make adjustments so we are heading in the right direction that aligns with what we want for our kids. Homeschool Plans with New Baby Podcast Episode

If you follow lots of homeschooling accounts on social media, it's easy to feel like everyone else has it all together! However, like all social media, we usually are only seeing the "highlight reel" and not a true representation of a person's life.  I try to be very authentic and real on social media, but I also value our privacy and don't think it's good to air all my own "dirty laundry" and details about my life and my kids' lives on social media.  However, I also don't want people to think that my homeschool days go super smoothly, I find it incredibly easy, and I never struggle because that's FAR from the truth.  So, I decided to share 5 things I'm currently struggling with in my homeschool. The goal in sharing this is to show that nobody has it all together but also to show that by naming our issues we can also work toward making them better!  I hope you enjoy!

For most people, it's the holiday season, but for us, we are in full baby mode with just a few weeks left to go before baby boy (our fourth child) is due!  With a major (beautiful, amazing) interruption smack dab in the middle of our school year, I've had to make adjustments to our plans that I made before becoming pregnant.  I'm breaking down my realistic plans for the weeks following baby and how we are going to manage it all! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 2024-2025 Homeschool Curricula Picks

As homeschool parents, it's easy to assume we are already giving our kids tons of quality time because we spend so many more hours with them each day than we would if they went to school outside of the home.  But, how often are we spending quality one-on-one time with each of our children unrelated to school with no distractions?  Probably not as much as we think.  Is this even important?  Well, I'll share why I think it is!  But even further than that, I'll share some very practical (not stressful or overwhelming) ways to fit this in daily as well as in bigger ways a couple times a year!  I'll also share why this is beneficial not just to our kids but it also often pays us back in a positive way as parents! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Family Board Meeting bookIG Post with Lots of Ideas

Many families like to devote a few weeks into December to following a Christmas curriculum, but alternatively, many families don't have the time, patience, money, or resources to do this.  However, there are SO many ways to bring the spirit of Christmas into your homeschool and I'm sharing 15 easy ways you can do that in today's episode! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Advent Puzzle25 Days of ChristChristmas Read-Alouds

Because our homeschool is more of a lifestyle than a place our kids go to learn, and because we are with our children so much, it's so easy for negative moods, hard times, hard current events, illnesses, and so much more negatively impact our homeschool days.  As moms, we often are the ones who set the tone of our homes, and when we are unhappy or stressed out, it seeps into our homeschool days.  I think it's safe to say that every homeschool family aims to have a happy homeschool most of the time, but how do we set ourselves up for that to be the norm?  In today's episode, I'm sharing many different daily habits you can employ to result in an overall happier homeschool, even when we aren't feeling super happy or a lot is happening in our lives that isn't so happy. - Quiet Time Episode

I recently had a spirited conversation in the comments of an Instagram reel with someone who believed that for most people, homeschooling is just impossible because both parents need to work.  I tried to explain that upwards of a third of homeschooling families are 2-parent working families to some degree, but I just couldn't open her eyes.  I decided to share ten different ways you can make a good income as a homeschooling parent - whether you already homeschool or are wanting to homeschool but have to make an income first before jumping in!  I hope this episode inspires and encourages you that it is possible to homeschool for so many families, but it will take thinking outside the box, changing things up, and making some sacrifices.

What are the riches?  Why are they important if most educations today don't include them?  And once we deem them important, how do we fit them in on top of everything else? I'm answering all these questions in today's episode! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Daily Riches

The new school year is just around the corner so I suppose it’s time to start thinking about what our school rhythm will be!  I always find it so interesting how other people (especially working homeschool parents) fit everything in, so I thought it would be fun to share how I’m balancing running 2 businesses and the social media for a friend’s business alongside homeschooling my 3 daughters (oh yeah, and to add to the chaos, baby 4 is due in January)!  I'm breaking down how I "do it all" (haha - I don't actually do "it all" but you know what I mean) in a typical homeschool week in today's episode! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 2023-2024 Curriculum Review (Kindergarten + 3rd Grade)2024-2025 Curriculum Choices (1st Grade + 4th Grade)Implementing Quiet Times Podcast EpisodeActivity Bins Highligh on IG