Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. In today's episode, we are thrilled to have Colleen Kessler, an education consultant with a master's degree in gifted education, homeschool mom, podcast host, and author. We'll be discussing Colleen's latest book, "The Homeschool Advantage," which highlights how to leverage children's strengths and passions in the homeschooling environment.

Colleen shares invaluable insights on adopting a strength-based approach to education, emphasizing the importance of knowing your children's interests and goals to craft a personalized and engaging learning experience. She also advises against investing too much money on new activities initially, allowing kids to naturally develop their interests.

We’ll touch on practical strategies like using unit studies to incorporate various subjects and discuss the beauty of flexibility in homeschooling—adapting to children's changing interests and needs as they grow. Colleen offers heartfelt encouragement that any parent who loves their child can successfully homeschool, providing practical tips and wisdom gleaned from her experiences.

Join us as we explore how to create a well-rounded and tailored educational experience for your children, step out of overwhelm, and step into wonder on this episode of Homeschool Better Together Podcast.

Links and Resources:

• The Homeschool Advantage Pre-Order Page
• Colleen's Website
• Raising Lifelong Learners Community
• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Raising Creative Kids: A Collection of Creativity Prompts for Children by Colleen Kessler
• Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family by Colleen Kessler

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the benefits of a strength-based approach to education by focusing on kids' strengths and passions to enhance their homeschooling experience.
• Understand the importance of knowing your child’s interests and integrating those interests into their education to create a more engaging and personalized learning environment.
• Learn practical advice on introducing new activities without spending a lot initially, allowing children to develop their interests organically and showing initiative.
• Hear about Colleen Kessler's experiences in tailoring education to her children's strengths and passions, including using alternative methods like online simulations for subjects they are less enthusiastic about.
• Explore the unit study approach to homeschooling, incorporating various subjects around a child's interest to create a well-rounded and flexible curriculum.
• Gain insights on managing homeschooling for multiple children by combining interests and subjects, particularly when they are younger and more controllable.
• Delve into the balance of offering children autonomy in their education while ensuring they acquire essential knowledge to become contributing members of society.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to

Feeling overwhelmed with language arts education in your homeschool? Join hosts Pam Barnhill, Meg Angelino, and Laney Homan, in episode nine of Homeschool Better Together, as they discuss how literature-based learning can revolutionize language arts education for your family. Discover the transformative power of integrating grammar, writing style, literary analysis, and vocabulary activities through high-quality literature, all within one flexible program.

Explore the hosts' personal experiences and insights as they discuss the benefits of using literature to teach grammar, the adaptability of the program for children with different ages and abilities, and the positive impact it has had on their own read-aloud sessions with their kids. Gain a deeper understanding of how this holistic approach to language arts offers an enriching and enjoyable learning experience, without the tedium of traditional grammar programs.

Don't miss out on this insightful discussion that will bring clarity and inspiration to your language arts journey. Whether you're a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out, this episode is for you!

Links and Resources:

• Language Arts Together Bundle Two- SPECIAL Presale price of $34 through July 16!
• Tarantula in My Purse by Jean Craighead George
• Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr
• A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
• A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
• Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Trumpet of The Swan by E.B. White
• Little House in The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Language Arts Together Bundle 1

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill explores five different types of curriculum—scripted, open-and-go, fixed grid, buffet, and whole-family learning—and discusses how each one can meet the unique needs of your homeschool journey.

By understanding the different kinds of curricula available and how each can fit your family's needs, you'll be well-equipped to make decisions that reduce stress and enhance your homeschooling adventure. So, grab your notepad, maybe a smoothie, and let's step out of the overwhelm and into the wonder of homeschooling better together.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn about different types of curriculum, including scripted, open and go, fixed grid, buffet, and whole-family learning, to find what works best for your homeschool style and needs.
• Understand the advantages of scripted curriculum for new homeschooling parents and how it can provide a structured yet flexible learning experience.
• Explore the concept of open and go curriculum and how balancing it with other types can simplify your homeschool year and reduce planning fatigue.
• Gain insight into fixed grid curriculum and the snaking loop schedule as a method to avoid overwhelm and ensure a balanced approach to using comprehensive resources.
• Get tips on effectively using buffet curriculum by setting specific goals, prioritizing materials, and making decisions in advance to avoid decision fatigue.
• Appreciate the value of whole-family learning curriculum, with a realistic approach to age range, to foster family unity and efficient multi-age education.

Resources and Links:

• All About Reading
• All About Spelling
• Guest Hallow
• Tapestry of Grace
• Layers of Learning
• Book Shark
• Memoria Press
• Five In A Row
• Simply Charlotte Mason
• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Homeschool Better Together Citizenship Together
• Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot
• Task Card Master Class

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt8

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.