Homeschool Coffee Break

Kerry Beck
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  • Education for Kids
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Homeschool Coffee Break helps you stop overwhelm and gain confidence so you know you're doing enough with your kids' education. Our top-notch interviews, practical tips & tricks, and real solutions will give you confidence in your homeschool.

  1. 5 days ago

    199: Thinking Differently Changes Your Homeschool Forever

    Most schools reward kids who give the right answer — but real life rewards kids who know how to ask the right question. If you want your child to lead instead of simply follow, thinking differently about education is where everything starts. This episode shows you exactly how to shift from raising compliant students to raising confident thinkers, with 3 practical changes you can make starting this week: ✅Why followers wait for answers but leaders learn to ask better questions ✅The difference between checking memory and developing real thinking skills ✅How discussion builds discernment, communication, and confidence in your kids ✅Why one better question this week can do more than an entire curriculum change ✅What two brothers with no college degrees teach us about thinking differently ✅One practical thing to do this week that builds wisdom instead of knowledge Click the link below to join the Raising Leaders Not Followers Early Access List and get a private homeschool chat. Resources for You   Raising Leaders Not Followers Early Access ListFREE Masterclass - Start School Right in 2026 STOP your overwhelm and find confidence for this school yearShow Notes: Followers Wait for Answers. Leaders Ask Better Questions. Imagine your child is 25 years old. The boss gives them a problem no one has seen before. How does your child react? Do they say — well, what am I supposed to do? Or do they say — let me think through this? That's the difference between followers and leaders. Most schools reward students with the right answer. Leaders become leaders because they learn to ask the right questions. Today I want to challenge you with one of the biggest assumptions we've inherited from the current school system. The School System Was Built for Workers, Not Leaders Traditional education often rewards memorization, compliance, following directions, and getting the right answers. Those skills have value. But leadership requires something different. Leaders evaluate. Leaders solve problems. Leaders make decisions where there isn't one correct answer. The Wright Brothers Never Had Engineering Degrees Most people think of the Wright brothers as one person. There were really two of them — and they used their individual giftedness together. Wilbur Wright was steady and focused. His father described him as never rattled in thought or temper. He was highly intelligent, an avid reader, a talented writer, and a gifted speaker. After an accident in high school, he was uncertain of his health and future, dropped his plans to attend Yale, and spent most of his time alone — reading and thinking. Orville Wright was curious, optimistic, energetic, and impulsive. He had a wide range of interests, a quick mind, and was always coming up with new inventions. He actually chose a series of advanced college prep courses in his junior year of high school — but that meant he couldn't graduate at the end of his senior year. So he just decided not to attend school that term. That's right. The co-inventor of the airplane never graduated from high school. Despite their lack of formal diplomas, both brothers committed to broad learning. All the reading they did would have been equivalent to — or bigger than — a modern four-year college degree. And they did it on their own, outside of school. Neither one had an engineering degree. They owned a bicycle shop. They questioned accepted scientific ideas instead of assuming the experts were right. They built wind tunnels, tested hundreds of wing designs, and learned by experimenting. Their willingness to think independently led to the first successful powered flight. They weren't simply collecting information. They were learning how to think through problems. And that's what I want for my kids — and I think that's what you want for yours too. The Questions That Develop Thinking — Not Just Memory Instead of asking what did you learn today, ask what surprised you today? What question do you still have? There's a real difference. What did you learn just repeats facts. What surprised you and what questions do you still have make your kids think. One checks memory. The other develops thinking. For older kids, ask what do you think about this topic? That forces them to have an opinion. And opinion is a higher-level thinking skill. Followers wait for answers. Leaders ask better questions. And great education is less about you, mom, giving answers — it's about teaching children to investigate. It's about asking questions and letting them discover answers. Instead of saying here's what to believe or here's what to know, teach them to ask — is that true? How do we know? What's the evidence? Does this line up with Scripture? What are the consequences? Charlotte Mason understood this over a hundred years ago. She believed education is the science of relations — that children connect ideas, not just memorize facts. She encouraged narration, living books, nature study, and discussion because those require children to think instead of repeat information. Louis Braille Changed the World by Refusing to Accept the Problem Louis Braille lost eyesight in one eye at age three, and by the time he was five, an infection took his sight in both eyes. But instead of giving up, he kept learning. Schools for the blind had almost no useful books. And so he thought — there has to be a better way. His curiosity changed education around the world. At age 15, he invented the Braille reading system, which has impacted millions — possibly billions — of blind readers around the world. His education wasn't just about covering subjects. It was about persistence, creativity, and solving real problems. Followers in life accept problems. Leaders solve them. The Power of Discussion One reason homeschooling is so powerful is that you can have real conversations with your children. Discussions develop thinking in ways that lectures, worksheets, and fill-in-the-blank assignments simply cannot. Try asking — why do you think the character acted the way they did? What would you have done? Was it wise? Is this what God would want? Those open-ended questions build discernment, communication skills, and confidence — all part of leadership education. Katherine Johnson was a NASA mathematician featured in the movie Hidden Figures. She was known for asking serious, careful questions and checking her calculations before accepting anything. Even after computers arrived, astronauts trusted her mathematical reasoning. John Glenn specifically requested that Katherine run the same numbers by hand — and said if she says they're good to go, I'm ready to go. Leadership often begins by asking better questions. That's exactly what Katherine Johnson did. What to Do This Week When your child asks a question this week — don't answer it. Ask them instead — what do you think? How could we find out? You might be amazed at what happens when your children have permission from you to wrestle with ideas. Replace one answer this week with a question. Just watch what happens. The goal isn't smarter kids. It's wiser leaders. Twenty years from now, would you rather your child know every state capital — or know how to make wise decisions? Knowledge matters. But wisdom matters more. In Proverbs it says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That is the direction we need to go if we're raising godly Christian leaders — not simply educated children, but leaders who love God, think biblically, and influence the world around them. Every discussion, every read aloud, every family conversation, every dinner table question can become leadership training. Leadership education is at the heart of my Raising Leaders, Not Followers course. Right now there's an early access VIP list open. Join it and you'll be invited to my private VIP chat, get early access to Raising Leaders, and receive $150 in early bird bonuses.

  2. 3 Aug

    198: Good Grades Are Not Enough for Real Life Success

    Good grades can open a door — but wisdom determines what your child does after they walk through it. Your child could finish every curriculum, earn good grades, and still walk into adulthood completely unprepared — and most homeschool moms never see it coming until it is too late. The trap is real, and this episode shows you exactly how to avoid it. We are breaking down why good grades are not enough and sharing 2 practical things you can start doing this week to raise kids who are ready for real life, not just the next test: ✅Why good grades measure compliance and memory but miss what actually determines adult success ✅The difference between knowledge and wisdom — and which one the real world rewards ✅What the most influential problem-solvers in history had in common that no test could measure ✅ONE dinner table question that trains wisdom starting tonight ✅How to stop solving your child's problems & start building real independence instead Click the link below to join the Raising Leaders Not Followers Early Access List and get up to $150 in bonuses plus a private homeschool chat. Resources for You  Raising Leaders Not Followers early access waitlist (FREE fireside chat, FREE Back to School Pack, & up to $150 in bonuses)Show Notes: What If Your Child Got Straight A's and Still Wasn't Prepared for Adulthood? What if your child got straight A's, completed every assignment, finished every curriculum — and still wasn't prepared for adulthood? That would be really sad and scary. And yet, some of us as homeschoolers, that's exactly what we're focused on — getting good grades. But do good grades really prepare your kids for what they need in adult life? When someone is 45 years old and looking for a job, does anyone go back and look at their high school transcript? I don't think so. Real life success and good grades are not the same thing. The Trap Many Homeschool Moms Fall Into A lot of homeschoolers assume that good grades mean success. Advanced academics, harder and harder curriculum — that'll be a better education. But none of that is automatically true. That's what most of us were taught because we grew up on the conveyor belt. Always checking off the boxes. If we check off all the right boxes, everything will be fine. But many top students struggle when nobody tells them what to do. They can follow really well — but they can't necessarily think for themselves. David Green Started Hobby Lobby in His Garage David Green, who founded Hobby Lobby, grew up in a poor family and did not attend college. After high school, he started a business by learning through hard work and hands-on experience. In 1970, he started building frames in his garage and selling them to family and friends. Two years later, in 1972, he founded the first Hobby Lobby store. His business became one of the top privately held retail companies in America. But he didn't build Hobby Lobby by chasing grades or accumulating knowledge. He focused on principles that mattered — honesty, serving customers, treating employees well, and honoring God through his business. The skills that actually grew that company were not good grades. They were vision, perseverance, leadership, problem solving, and the ability to make wise decisions. Education is not only about what someone knows. It's about who they will become and how they will use their giftedness to serve others. What Good Grades Actually Measure Good grades measure the ability to remember information, complete assignments, follow directions, and perform on a test. Those aren't bad skills — they're just incomplete. Real life requires other types of skills. Making decisions without a teacher or parent nearby. Managing your time. Solving problems. Following God's direction. Leading a family. Evaluating culture through a biblical lens. Your kids may not become CEO of Hobby Lobby or president of the United States, but they will influence the people around them. And almost all of them will grow up to be moms and dads who need to lead their families well. That is what leadership is — influence. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not the ability to pass a test, but the ability to lead well, that will send your kids into adulthood ready for real life. Florence Nightingale Didn't Save Lives With Good Grades During the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale arrived at a military hospital where soldiers were dying at alarming rates. Most people assumed the dying was just from wounds. But Florence looked further. She observed what many overlooked — the hospital was filthy. The sewage contaminated the water, ventilation was poor, beds were crowded. Instead of accepting that, she asked — what is causing this problem and how can we fix it? She organized nurses to clean the wards, improve sanitation, increase ventilation, and improve patient care. The death rate plummeted. Florence wasn't remembered for the medical information she knew. She became a leader because she observed, thought critically, and had the courage to do what needed to be done. She revolutionized nursing through observation, leadership, and courage — not through a test score. The Difference Between Knowledge and Wisdom Knowledge is knowing facts. Wisdom is the ability to apply truth. Let me give you a few examples. A smart person knows how compound interest works. A wise person avoids unnecessary debt. A smart person can win an argument. A wise person knows when not to argue. A smart person memorizes Bible verses. A wise person lives them out. Louis Pasteur is another great example. In the 1850s and 60s, French winemakers kept losing their wine because it spoiled, and most people just accepted it as the way things were. But Pasteur wasn't satisfied. He started observing under a microscope. He discovered microbes were causing the wine and milk to spoil. He asked how we could stop it. He found that heating the liquid would kill harmful microbes without ruining the taste. That discovery is called pasteurization. Pasteur didn't become influential because he memorized a science textbook. He became influential because he learned how to ask good questions, investigate carefully, and work toward a solution. That's what I want for your kids — to see problems, collect information, observe, think, persevere, and find solutions. What to Do Tonight At dinner this week — and I hope you're eating dinner together — ask your kids one day this week: what decision did you make today, and why did you make that decision? You're training wisdom, not just knowledge. You might be really surprised at what they say. And when your kids are stuck and don't know how to figure something out — don't solve it for them. Ask them — what do you think? Why? Give them a chance to work through it on their own. Good grades can open doors. But wisdom determines what happens after they open that door. The goal isn't academic kids. The goal is prepared adults. That is something we teach in Raising Leaders, Not Followers. Right now, there's an early access opportunity — join the VIP list and you'll get an exclusive private homeschool chat with me to help you become confident this year and make wise decisions for your upcoming school year. You'll also get early access to Raising Leaders and up to $150 in bonuses. The link is in the show notes wherever you're watching or listening. If this meant anything to you, would you please share it with one or two other homeschoolers or in a co-op? And if you're listening on a podcast, it would mean the world to me if you'd leave a five-star review.

  3. 28 Jul

    197: Real Education or Just Assigning Work?

    There’s a quiet difference between a child who checks a box and a child who actually understands — and most homeschool moms don’t realize they’ve been getting one when they thought they were getting the other. Real education looks different than what most of us grew up with, and it’s time to talk about why that matters in your homeschool. This episode gives you 3 practical things to try this week to shift from assigning work to cultivating real education — without overhauling your whole curriculum. ✅Why a completed worksheet is not proof your child learned anything ✅Why checking boxes feels like success but often isn’t ✅ONE question to ask after every read-aloud that changes everything ✅How to remove one piece of busy work tomorrow — without replacing it ✅What Beatrix Potter’s childhood reveals about real education ✅How to shift from completion tasks to conversation that builds critical thinkers If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough, this episode will shift your focus from checking boxes to building thinkers. Click the links below to grab the Raising Leaders waitlist and lock in your VIP bonus. Resources for You Raising Leaders, Not Followers — VIP Waitlist New Homeschool Community Support GroupShow Notes: Checking the Box Is Not the Same as Real Education It's 3 p.m. on a homeschool day. Your dining table is covered with textbooks, workbooks, and colored pencils. Your child proudly draws a thick black line through that last math box. And you're thinking — thank goodness, we did it, we finished the day. But if we're completely honest — did actual life-changing education take place in your home just because your child checked the box? Or was he just trying to get you off his back so he could go play video games? There is a massive and quiet difference between checking a box to finish a lesson and a child who deeply understands a concept. The Problem With Falling in Love With Curriculum A lot of homeschool moms want the best for their kids, but accidentally fall in love with curriculum. You buy whatever the thickest, current teacher manual is. You assign every problem on page 42. You treat that scope and sequence like it came down from Mount Sinai. Today I want to talk about doing something better. Beatrix Potter Didn't Need a Checklist Long before Beatrix Potter was a literary icon — before Peter Rabbit and all those wonderful books — her education was completely devoid of a rigid checklist. She was left as a child to explore her family's extensive library and to wander the fields of Scotland. She spent hours meticulously observing, sketching, and dissecting flowers, trees, and nature. The bunnies. How do you think she learned to draw and paint Peter Rabbit? Her parents prioritized deep, independent observation over rigid schoolwork and busywork. And she developed an elite, self-taught mastery of scientific illustration. Her storytelling is beyond wonderful — and it came from real learning, not a prepackaged curriculum. Does that sound like your homeschool? Do you want it to? Checking a Box Feels Productive — But Is It? Checking a box feels incredible. It's a dopamine hit. We are all busy juggling laundry, dinner, and toddlers. A completed worksheet is tangible proof that we're doing enough. And that is one of my biggest questions — am I doing enough? Am I doing the right things? But public school systems are built like automated factories. They want you to conform and complete whatever they tell you, instead of think critically. They teach your kids what to think and how to pass a standardized exam, instead of how to navigate real life. When we force our kids to complete every single line of a prepackaged curriculum just because it's there, we accidentally keep them on that conveyor belt. We're training them to be professional rule followers — people who wait until the boss tells them what to do because they can't really think for themselves. True leaders do not wait for a worksheet. They look at a problem, analyze it using the tools of learning, and formulate an original solution. One Baby Step Off the Conveyor Belt Go find your student's daily planner, spreadsheet, or schedule book right now. Look for one recurring assignment block — maybe an automated daily vocabulary worksheet or a repetitive review page. Find one. And draw a single line through what it will be tomorrow. If you're listening in the summer, think of one thing you usually do during the school year that you could cross off. Don't replace it. Remove it. When you intentionally skip one piece of textbook filler, you're making a conscious choice to quit the checklist, quit the conveyor belt, and let your kids find real meaning in learning. Sometimes that's exactly why they're not excited about school — it's boring. It's just boxes to check. The Difference Between Assigning Work and Cultivating Real Education There's a myth that if you sit and teach your kids everything, or get videos to teach them everything, that's successful educating. It isn't. If your child can instantly recite a definition word for word but can't explain what it means — they're not really being educated. All they've done is memorize it to survive the afternoon. The next time you finish a read aloud, ask your kids — can you explain to me what we just read in your own words? What do you think? Why do you think this matters? I remember when Hunter was in sixth grade, we were reading a church history book — just one page, a story, not facts and figures. I said, Hunter, what was that about? I don't know. We really had to work on that. Your kids may look like a deer in headlights and say, I don't know. I just read it. If that's the case, you've been assigning work — but not cultivating education. Maria Montessori saw this problem, just like Charlotte Mason did, at the turn of the 20th century. They both realized that children excelled when educators stepped back and let kids follow their natural instincts and interests — and then learn how to solve problems within those interests. That produces highly confident, self-directed thinkers who have the actual tools of learning. Turn Completion Into Conversation Stop asking your kids — did you finish your schoolwork today? Instead, pick one topic they read about and ask — what was most surprising about that science lesson? What was the weirdest thing about that history book we read? Turn it from a completion task to a conversation. Not only will you develop critical thinking — you'll build relationships with your kids as well. If you've listened to this and realized — I think I've just been assigning work — don't feel guilty. You are not alone. Plenty of people are there. I've been there too. But you now have the total freedom in your homeschool to change that mindset. Jump off the conveyor belt, quit checking the boxes, and start creating an environment where kids learn to think critically, communicate persuasively, and love learning for a lifetime. If you're still not sure where to start, Raising Leaders, Not Followers is a six-week biblical model framework that gives you a completely different game plan. We're opening doors for the fall class soon and the waitlist is open now. VIPers get $150 in bonus items just for being on the VIP list, plus a special VIP session before the class opens. Get on the VIP waitlist here. If you also just want to dip your toe in, I'm working on a brand new homeschool support community — early access means a discount. That link is in the show notes as well. Please share this with a friend who feels like they're not doing enough, or a co-op that's trying to get away from the conveyor belt. That would mean so much to me.

  4. 20 Jul

    196: Shark Week Activities to Beat Screen Time This Summer

    Your kids are glued to screens all summer and you are running out of ideas to pull them away. But what if 3 items from your kitchen pantry could spark more curiosity than any tablet ever could? Shark Week is the perfect excuse to make it happen. This episode walks you through 3 hands-on shark week activities that bust common shark myths, teach real marine biology, and get your kids off screens without a single worksheet or complicated plan: ✅Why hands-on observation builds deeper thinking skills than any screen or textbook ✅Discover how Shark Week can spark curiosity beyond marine biology, inspiring kids to ask better questions and pursue learning on their own. ✅How following your child's natural interests develops confidence, critical thinking, and the drive to keep learning long after the lesson ends. ✅Practical ways to replace passive learning with hands-on exploration that encourages curiosity, resilience, and independent learners. Resources for You: Shark Unit Study Flash Sale — save $10 with code SHARKWEEK (you pay only $5) Show Notes: Your Secret Weapon for Getting Kids Off Screens This Summer It's a hot summer morning in July. You planned for a peaceful, screen-free summer. Instead, you're exhausted, and that phrase — Mom, I'm bored — is just echoing through your house. There's a magnetic pull between your kids and their tablets, the TV, the video games. And somehow that is winning the battle, especially with high-energy boys. They're zoning out in front of those screens and you feel guilty because you want them to love learning, not consume a bunch of pixels. I've got a secret weapon for you today. You don't need a complicated curriculum or a lecture to fix this. You need a topic that instantly captures their imagination. And with Shark Week coming up next week, we're going to use sharks to get your kids off those tablets and into real learning — right at the kitchen table. Mary Anning and the Power of Curiosity Before we dive in, I want to give you a little historical background. There was a woman named Mary Anning in the 19th century. She was completely self-taught. She lived in England, gathered fossils, and had no formal science background. Out of 9 kids, only Mary and her older brother Joseph survived to adulthood. Life was hard. But she had a dad with great influence. Her father Richard was a cabinet maker and an avid fossil collector. His five-year-old sidekick Mary would come along and he would show her how to collect fossils at the beaches where they worked. He meticulously taught her how to locate specimens, get them out safely, and clean the delicate finds. Then he would put what they found in the storefront of his cabinet shop. Dads, you have a great impact on your kids. Mary was denied formal education — like most women and girls of her time — but she taught herself to read. And she used curiosity, drive, and perseverance to make contributions to science that are still recognized today. That is what I want for your kids in this episode. Before You Start — Grab Three Things Go to your kitchen cabinet right now and get these three things. A bottle of cooking oil. A small empty plastic bottle. And a handful of pennies. Just put them on the counter. Physically setting them out says — today is a hands-on learning day. Myth Buster #1: Sharks Sink Like Stones If They Stop Swimming The myth is that sharks sink like stones if they stop swimming. Here's the truth — bony fish have swim bladders filled with gas to float. Sharks don't have swim bladders. Instead, they have a massive, oily liver that acts like a natural flotation device. Oil is lighter than water, so that giant oily liver keeps them buoyant. Here's the activity. Fill your sink with water. Drop in your empty bottle and let your kids watch. It sinks. Now ask them — what do you think happens if I fill the bottle with oil? Don't tell them. Let them observe and be curious. Fill the bottle with cooking oil, close it tightly, and drop it in. It floats. The oil is lighter than the water and rises to the top. Super easy, but so powerful. Myth Buster #2: Sharks Can Smell Blood From Miles Away Through Magic It's not magic — it's a highly acute olfactory navigation system. Sharks track scent gradients through water currents. God gave them the ability to smell, and that is essentially their steering wheel. Like we drive a car with our eyes, sharks navigate with their smell. Here's the activity. Get a bowl of warm water. Have your kids sit perfectly still. Drop red food coloring on one side and watch what happens. The current in that warm water carries the food coloring across the bowl — just like the way a scent pathway travels to a shark through the ocean. Let them observe, ask questions, and come up with conclusions. This is exactly what Charlotte Mason was talking about when she said kids learn best when they're allowed to interact with the real world — not reading dry textbook summaries. When kids use their own senses to observe nature, they develop deep analytical skills. No prepackaged textbook or screen can duplicate this. Myth Buster #3: Losing a Tooth Is an Emergency for a Shark For us humans, we get two sets of teeth. Lose one from the second set and it's gone for good. Sharks are completely different. They have a conveyor belt system of teeth and can grow up to 35,000 teeth in a lifetime. Their teeth don't have deep roots, so they fall out easily while hunting — and new ones just move right into place. Here's the activity. You'll need Play-Doh or modeling clay and your pennies — or small pebbles. Roll the clay into a thick strip representing a shark's jaw. Push the pennies in one by one, layered behind each other like shingles on a roof. Have one of your kids pull out the front tooth and watch how the others shift right into place. Simple visual, powerful concept. What to Do From Here Those are your three myth busters — the oily liver, the olfactory steering system, and the conveyor belt tooth system. From here, get your library card and spend no more than five minutes searching sharks online. Pick up two or three books, or a documentary if you have DVDs. Give your kids immediate, high-quality material to dig into right after they make a mess at the kitchen table. Hands-on learning gets kids off the screens. I know for a fact — when I go visit my grandkids, they are not on their screens. They're not even watching TV. But it does take energy to plan, to find the books, to build activities, and to organize a week from scratch. If you want to skip the planning completely and be ready for Shark Week with everything done for you, grab our Shark Unit Study. Today is day one of our flash sale — use the code SHARKWEEK by Friday and save $10, which means you pay only $5. You get shark life cycle activities, a curated list of books and videos with activities to go with each one, these three myth busters, shark-themed snacks, crafts, shark binoculars, and an ocean unit tie-in as well. It's plug-and-play for your summer. If this sparked one little idea, would you share it with one homeschool mom or your co-op? That would mean the world to me.

  5. 14 Jul

    195: Why Some Homeschool Graduates Thrive (and Others Struggle)

    Some homeschool graduates launch into adulthood with confidence, while others finish all the curriculum and still feel stuck. The difference is rarely grades — and this episode is going to show you exactly what it is. We are breaking down the shift from raising students to raising homeschool graduates who are truly prepared for real life, with 3 practical things you can start doing this week: ✅Why completed curriculum and good grades do not equal real-life readiness ✅1 question every homeschool mom needs to ask about building life skills in your kids ✅What truly successful adults have in common — and how to build it before they leave home ✅Why character, initiative, and problem solving matter more than any test score ✅How to let your child solve one problem this week without stepping in — starting today Grab the Free Character Building Mini Chart mentioned in this episode and start building what really matters in your homeschool today. Resources for You  Free Character Building Mini Chart   New homeschool support community early access   Show Notes: Why Some Homeschool Graduates Launch Into Adulthood With Confidence — And Others Don't Have you ever wondered why some homeschool graduates launch into adulthood with confidence while others seem stuck — even though both finished their curriculum and both made good grades? What if you are checking off all the boxes but missing the thing that actually prepares your child for adult life? Today we're talking about the difference between information and preparation for real life. What Traditional Education Rewards vs. What Real Life Rewards Many graduates know facts, but they struggle with decision-making, responsibility, work ethic, communication, and initiative. Traditional education — at least for the past 200 years — rewards compliance and completion. Real life rewards wisdom, perseverance, and leadership. We tend to measure success by completed curriculum, grades, transcripts, and test scores. Those things are easy to measure, so we feel secure in them. And yet that isn't always what is best for our kids. The things that are easy to measure aren't always what will prepare them for real life. Character, wisdom, initiative, responsibility, leadership — those are harder to measure. And yet those are the qualities that determine success as an adult. So I want you to ask yourself this question today. What adult skill are you intentionally building in your children right now? Time management? Communication? Problem solving? Responsibility? Grab a piece of paper and write down three things you want your kids to be able to do or be known for at the age of 25. Then see if those are things you're actually working on with them right now. You might notice that most of what you write down are character qualities — not academic achievements. Clara Barton Didn't Change the World With a Transcript Clara Barton started the American Red Cross. She was educated largely at home because she was very shy and struggled in traditional settings. She had very little formal schooling compared to what standards are today. Why? Because her family focused on character, service, and practical responsibility. She later founded the American Red Cross and became one of the most influential humanitarians in our history. Her impact didn't come from a high school transcript. It came from compassion, leadership, courage, and a willingness to take responsibility when others wouldn't. Does anyone remember Clara Barton because she completed a curriculum? No. They remember her because she had an impact on others. She served others well. The Real Question Is Not Can They Find Information Information has never been more readily available. Kids can find any fact they want instantly on their phones. The question is not can they find information. The question is can they use that information wisely? Can they solve problems? Can they make wise decisions? Can they think critically? Can they follow God when life gets hard? Those are the things I wanted for my own children. Now that I watch them going through some trials — they're all in their 30s — I am thankful that God is still working in them and they are making wise decisions. What qualities consistently show up in successful adults? The ability to think critically and biblically. To communicate. To solve problems. To keep learning. To have a strong character and a strong work ethic. To persevere. To have integrity and dignity. These are not measured by a worksheet or a test score. Booker T. Washington and the Tuskegee Model Booker T. Washington is one of my favorite historical characters. He was born into slavery. He had very little formal education. He pursued learning relentlessly and went to Hampton Institute, where he was trained not only academically but in discipline, responsibility, and leadership. He later founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. When you went to Tuskegee, yes, you chose an academic major — but you also had to choose a practical activity you would use to help build the university. Some students were construction workers who built the new buildings. Some were cooks who cooked the food all the students ate. Some were gardeners who grew the food. It was a dual pathway to graduation — academics and real-world responsibility together. Booker T. Washington's success came from perseverance, leadership, and responsibility. And in one particular year, there were more millionaires from Tuskegee than from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton combined — because his system worked. He didn't just teach academics. He taught life skills that students could use for the rest of their lives. The education that changes life isn't just information. It includes character formation and practical wisdom. Who Is Your Child Becoming? Many moms can plan subjects, lessons, and activities. But few intentionally plan character building, leadership opportunities, decision-making practice, independent thinking, real-world responsibility, work ethic, self-discipline, communication, and biblical wisdom. Those are all things your children need to be successful as adults. Most homeschool moms ask — what should my child learn? But the real question is — who is my child becoming? Make a list of who you want your child to be when they leave your home. If they're five, you have lots of time. If they're 15, that's okay too. There is still time. God is gracious and He has the Holy Spirit — and that is what can take you through and get your kids prepared. Most adults don't struggle because they forgot algebra. They struggle because they can't manage money, relationships, priorities, or decisions. If your child graduated tomorrow, what would you want people to say about them? I know what I wanted. I wanted someone to say they're following Jesus. They honor Jesus. They live a life of godly character. They have perseverance, work ethic, and integrity. It's not what your kids are memorizing — it's who they become. What to Do This Week Let your child solve one problem without you. Don't step in immediately. Give them time to think it through. That builds lifelong skills. If they're not sure where to start, ask them — what do you think you should do first? Let them find the answer. That one shift — from solving it for them to asking them to think — is the beginning of everything. If this episode helped you, would you please share it with someone? That would mean the world to me. I also have two things for you. First, a free character building mini chart — the link is in the show notes. Second, I'm building a limited community of homeschool moms where we can encourage each other and answer questions about where you are right now. If you'd like early access, there is a sign-up link in the show notes as well. year?

  6. 7 Jul

    194: Why Your Homeschool Doesn't Need More Curriculum

    You have been researching homeschool curriculum for weeks, filling carts, reading reviews, and asking everyone what they use. What if none of that matters as much as what you do before you ever open a single book? This episode shares 3 simple tips that will make a bigger difference in your homeschool this year than any homeschool curriculum purchase ever could: ✅Why your attitude and atmosphere are more important than the curriculum you choose ✅How to take a CEO planning date that prepares you for the whole year ✅1 tradition that creates lasting memories your kids will still talk about decades from now ✅3 questions to ask about each child before buying any homeschool curriculum ✅Why knowing your learner always comes before choosing any program Join the waitlist for the new homeschool support community mentioned in this episode and be first to know when it opens. Resources for You  Raising Leaders Not Followers Course waitlistNew homeschool support community waitlistYour Biggest Homeschool Decision This Year Is Not Curriculum Raise your hand if you've already started looking for curriculum. Maybe you've already spent hours reading reviews or filled up an online shopping cart. What if I told you your biggest decision in your homeschool this year is not curriculum? It's the atmosphere and the expectations you create before you ever open a book. Today I'm sharing three simple tips that will make a bigger difference in your homeschool than which curriculum you buy. Tip #1: Prepare Yourself Before You Prepare for School There are moms like yourself that spend weeks organizing books, labeling bins, printing out schedules — but almost no time preparing themselves. What kind of mom do you want to be this year? Peaceful? Flexible? Intentional? Joyful? You really do need to decide that before you move forward, because when you are ready, your kids will automatically follow along. I want to strongly encourage you to take a CEO homeschool planning date. I used to do this. I still remember one particular planning date — we were living in Idaho, and there was a coffee shop called Bootser's. I went up there for a whole Saturday morning and worked on things to prepare for our homeschool that year. Get somewhere you can be by yourself with a notebook and a calendar. You're not going to plan the whole year — I don't even understand when people say they plan the whole year in a day. What if your child, three weeks in, doesn't understand the Pythagorean theorem and you've got to go back? Plan an overall idea of what you'll cover each month, but the weekly details? Plan one or two weeks at a time. Life happens. My past two weeks, I had no idea I was going to spend two weeks helping my mom recover from surgery. That just wasn't what we expected. But I had the freedom and the blessing to go be there for her. One of the most important things you can do before that planning date is pray. Ask God what He wants you to do, how to plan for this year, what is special about each of your children right now. When mom is prepared emotionally, the whole homeschool changes. Charlotte Mason was having dinner at her home once and asked her guests — what is the most important thing in your home? Someone said bookcases. Someone said the cradle. She said no. Space is the most precious thing, because that will help you clarify your attitude and create a life-giving atmosphere. Mom, a life-giving atmosphere starts with you. For some of you that may mean purging the clutter. Have a garage sale before September. Maybe it means getting rid of some extra activities — even that tournament team your kids are on. You need to look and see what is really life-giving and what will make a lifelong impact on your children. Charlotte Mason said — education is an atmosphere, a discipline of life. And a mother's attitude shapes the home more than the curriculum you choose. She spent enormous time preparing mothers, not just preparing lessons. Tip #2: Create Traditions Your Kids Will Remember Almost all of you get on social media and take a first-day-of-school photo — and those are cute, I love them too. But I want to challenge you to create at least one tradition that goes deeper than a photo. My mom took each of us four kids out for an individual back-to-school lunch before school started. I still remember sitting in a little restaurant in the mall with the windows open where you could watch people walk by. We'd go buy school supplies after lunch. I do this with my grandkids now — usually Jason's Deli because they can get a free ice cream cone with their meal. But the number one tradition in our home? Ice cream sundaes for breakfast on the first day of school. The first year I did this, my kids came to the table and their eyes got wide as saucers. Hunter, the youngest, as a senior in high school, still expected ice cream sundaes. Last year I started it with my grandkids, and they came downstairs and were thrilled — because they'd heard all about it from their parents. These weren't educational moments. But they are something my children remember. And something my grandkids are already hearing about and looking forward to. Choose one tradition this year — not ten, just one. Maybe it's pancakes shaped like their age. Maybe it's donuts with dad. Maybe it's a special prayer or a family blessing over the children on the first day. Maybe it's a lunch date or buying something new. You see, God knows children remember experiences better than lectures. In Deuteronomy 6, God created annual family traditions around Israel's calendar. In Joshua 4, they built a stone memorial so that when children asked, what do these stones mean, the parents could tell the story of what God had done. I have a memory from 50 years ago — I was in a high school youth group, we went to Colorado, we were studying Joshua, and we each brought back a small stone and built a stone memorial in the churchyard. I don't know if it's still there. But I still have that memory. That's the thing about memories. They come back and jog your mind. What experiences are you giving your children? Tip #3: Don't Choose Curriculum Until You Know Your Family Many of you are going backwards. You're choosing the curriculum first and then trying to fit your family into it. Instead of asking what curriculum should I buy, ask these questions first. Who are my children? How do they learn? What season is our family in? What kind of homeschool do I want? If you're homeschooling a six and eight-year-old while a two and four-year-old are running around, that is going to look completely different than when those older ones are teenagers. You need to know your family before you ever start choosing homeschool curriculum. What is your personality? Are you willing to change something if it's not working for your kids? I remember using a particular math program all the way through, but when it came to algebra, it just was not clicking for one of our kids. I changed it and found something that worked. Are you so tied to the choices you already made that you'd fit the child into the curriculum instead of the other way around? What is your family's schedule? Do you have special needs in your family? How big is your house? What is your stress level? Just because your friend loves a curriculum doesn't mean it will be right for your family. Before buying anything, write down these three questions for each of your children. What is one strength of this child? What is one struggle of this child? What do I want this child to love this year? Then buy the curriculum. Maria Montessori developed her educational ideas at the turn of the 20th century by observing children before she ever created any materials. She didn't begin with the curriculum — she began with the child and their needs. Her students became confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners. They had the tools of learning. They could think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly. Great educators always start with the learner, not the program. What You Actually Need As I've talked to hundreds of homeschool moms, I've realized something. You don't need another curriculum recommendation. What you need is encouragement. You need a community of other people walking beside you. You need accountability. So instead of asking what should we study, ask — who are we becoming as a family? What atmosphere do I want in our home? What traditions will my kids remember? What actually fits our family — not everyone else's? Those questions will shape your homeschool far more than another curriculum purchase. Moms don't need more curriculum. They need support. You don't need another planner — you need confidence. You don't need more information — you need community. If you'd like to hear first when our new homeschool support community opens — with a special founding member discount — join the waitlist at howtohomeschoolmychild.com/wait. The link is in the show notes wherever you're listening. And if you're watching on YouTube, would you please leave a comment and let me know your biggest takeaway? What is the one thing you're going to implement this week as you plan for your next homeschool year?

  7. 30 Jun

    193: What Sports Teach Kids About Character Development

    What if the sport your child plays every week is one of the most powerful character development tools you have — and you are not fully using it yet? Character development through sports goes so much deeper than winning and losing. This episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to raise coachable, confident, resilient kids, sharing 5 practical insights from a coach with 26 years of experience at the college and NBA level: ✅The number one life skill that separates great players from average ones — and it is not talent ✅Why 70 percent of kids quit youth sports by age 13 and the surprising reason behind it ✅The one thing every parent should say after a game — and nothing more ✅What you say on the ride home after a game matters more than you think ✅How to turn failure into the most powerful character-building moment of all ✅The simple 3-step approach to test taking and decision making that builds real confidence Check out the resources mentioned in this episode and start building character development through sports in your family today. Resources for You On the Right Path website and all resourcesOn the Right Path six-book series for kids ages 3 and upLife and Basketball 12-week interactive curriculum for middle and high schoolOnline educational classroom with videos from NBA players on life skillsShow Notes: Building Leadership and Life Skills Through Sports — A Conversation With Brett Gunning Today I have Brett Gunning here, and we're talking about building leadership skills and life skills through sports. I love sports. My kids grew up in a sports family. And Brett has spent 26 years coaching — 14 years at the college level and 12 years in the NBA. What he's sharing today goes way beyond basketball. These are life skills that apply to any sport and really to any area of life. The Number One Life Skill: Be Coachable Brett spent years watching what separated great college players from great NBA players. And it kept coming back to one thing — being coachable. Being teachable. When a parent, teacher, or coach gets on you, it's most likely rooted in a desire to help you. But a lot of kids can't get past the ego part to see that. They can't move from why are they getting on me to — this person loves me, they care about me, what is the message they're trying to give me? For as simple as it sounds, most kids are not coachable. So that's where we have to start. Whether it's basketball, football, gymnastics, music — whatever it is — being coachable is the foundation. Honesty and Letting Kids Make Decisions Brett learned from a great coach who used to say — the greatest gift anyone can ever give you is the truth. And that's a biblical principle. When you're honest with your kids, you may not get the result you want immediately. But over time, when they start seeing on their own — every time dad told me something, he was right — that's when it sinks in. Let them make the decision. Then sit down and have the difficult conversations about what happened. Let them learn the natural consequences. Instead of making your kid do something, be honest with them and give them the freedom to make the choice — then hold that conversation afterward about what they could do differently next time. That's what coaches do. Right after a game, the best coaching moment is watching the film and evaluating the decisions. Then sitting down and saying — next time you're in this position, here's something to think about. You can do the same thing at the dinner table. For a spelling test — if they waited until Thursday to study for a Friday test, have the conversation about how to prepare differently next week. That's not punishment. That's coaching. The Ride Home — The Gut Punch That Changed Everything 70% of kids quit youth sports by the age of 13. And the number one reason? The ride home. When Brett Gunning heard that statistic, he said — I'm done. Because making it to the college or professional level is about as likely as winning the lottery. So let's take that pressure off the table. What matters is that your kid has a great experience playing the sport through their high school years. Here's the advice — after every game, say one thing. Just one thing. I loved watching you play today. Not — why didn't you do this? Why didn't you pass to Johnny? Why didn't you catch that? Just — I loved watching you play. Let the ride home be that. Then maybe later that night or the next day, circle back to one teaching moment. But the ride home is where we are losing kids. Don't let that be the moment. Building Confidence and Resilience Brett's eight-year-old son was playing in a basketball game, down one with 10 seconds left, bringing the ball up for the last shot. He missed it. And Brett said — right away I flipped a switch and thought, this is going to be a much bigger teaching moment than if he made it. Because it's easy to handle success. It's hard to handle failure. How do you build resilience? You have to embrace the hard moments. You can't run from them. You don't tell your kid — it was the ref's fault, you got fouled. You say — you missed the shot. It's okay. You're not going to win every game. Keep a great attitude. Shake their hand. You're going to have other opportunities in your life to hit the game-winning shot. And guess what — one week later, same scenario, last game of the season. His son hit the game-winner. He said, "Dad, how did you know?" Brett told him — I didn't know it was going to happen next week. I just knew at some point you were going to be in that spot again. Whether it's a failed test, a hard season, or a breakup — the only way kids become resilient is if we let them face the difficult moments, accept them, and learn from them. If we go through a failure and don't take the lesson from it, it's a wasted opportunity. Teamwork, Humility, and Helping Others If you don't want to be part of something bigger than yourself, go play tennis or golf. If you're going to play a team sport, you are part of something. And that requires humility. In basketball, someone sets a screen so you can get open for a shot. If they don't do their job, you don't get the shot. Having the humility to recognize — I am part of something bigger than myself — is everything. After 26 years in the game, Brett has seen it over and over. When you help someone else get open, the ball moves, your defender goes to help, and you end up getting the shot. You helped someone else and it came back to you. That's a biblical principle. When you help someone, it always comes back. As parents, praise the unselfish things. Don't just say great job, you scored 10 points. Say — great job helping your teammate up when he fell. Great job cheering for your buddy when his head was down. Great job passing. Every kid already knows how many points they scored. Emphasize the things that don't show up in the box score. Be Knowledgeable — Go Seek the Information The second life skill Brett Gunning teaches is being knowledgeable. There has never been more information available. Whatever you want to be great at, every morsel of information is out there. Go get it. Don't wait for someone to hand it to you. Go seek it. Whether it's cooking, basketball, coding, music — no matter what the profession, there are no secrets. It's all available. Our job as parents and coaches is to help kids understand they have to go pursue it. Learn as if you're going to live forever. On the Right Path — Brett's Nonprofit and Book Series Brett started On the Right Path based on Proverbs 22:6 — train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. He uses basketball to guide kids on the right path at the beginning of their journeys, tying every life skill and basketball skill together with a Bible verse. He has three resources available. A six-book series for younger kids — each book teaches a life skill through basketball in a way kids and parents can read together. A 12-week interactive curriculum called Life and Basketball for middle school and high school ages — a great parent-child learning experience built around the game. And an online educational classroom on the website with videos from current and former NBA players talking about humility, resilience, and being coachable. The Lesson From John Wooden Brett Gunning once had the privilege of spending two to three hours with John Wooden — one of the greatest coaches of all time — about a year before Wooden passed away. At the end of that visit, Brett asked him one question. Coach, you've been through it all. What is the most important thing for a young coach to remember? Wooden thought for a moment. Then he said — patience. Patience with your team. Patience with your players. And that is a great place to close. For as much as we want our kids to get it as fast as possible, because we care about them and we know what's on the other side — we also have to hang in there with them. There's a dynamic of patience that we cannot overlook. You can find Brett's book series, 12-week curriculum, and online educational classroom at ontherightpath.org. Links to all of it are below this video.

  8. 22 Jun

    192: Skip the Screen With These Summer Reading Activities

    What if one simple daily habit this summer could reduce screen battles, spark meaningful conversations, and build your child's character — all at the same time? Summer reading activities do not have to be complicated to be powerful. This episode shows how 10 minutes a day of read alouds can transform your summer into something your kids actually remember . . . with practical ideas for every age from elementary all the way through high school: ✅Why read alouds are the single most powerful summer reading activity you can do ✅Age-by-age ideas for elementary, middle school, and high school that actually work ✅How one question after any chapter sparks real conversations without any pressure ✅Simple hands-on activities that pair perfectly with any book your family is reading ✅Why stopping read alouds when kids can read on their own is one of the biggest homeschool mistakes ✅Why 10 consistent minutes beats any elaborate summer learning plan every time Grab the FREE Read Aloud Magic and start your summer reading activities this week. Resources for You Read Aloud Magic (free resource — favorite read aloud books, tips, and ideas, linked in show notes) Show Notes: One Simple Summer Habit That Does More Than Any Curriculum What if I told you there is one simple habit this summer that could reduce screen battles, build family relationships, improve reading skills, spark meaningful conversations, and create memories your kids remember for years? It doesn't require expensive curriculum, elaborate lesson plans, or hours of preparation. Many homeschool moms during the summer are thinking — should we keep schooling? What if they forget something? Do I have enough time to take a break? What if summer learning could feel more like family connection and less like school? Summer is the perfect time to shift from worksheets to stories, from checklists to conversations, and from assignments to curiosity. The One Habit: Read Alouds Read alouds give you so much more than just reading. They give you leadership. They give you learning. They give you character development. They give you family bonding and family conversation. And best of all, one book can work for many ages. I still remember when Steve was reading the Little Bridges series to our kids. We were driving in our giant van and all of a sudden the kids started talking about how that grandpa in the story was so crotchety. They said they'd never want their grandpa to act like that. Did I ask them questions? Did I give them a multiple-choice test? No. They had been so involved in the story that they were comparing the grandpa's character to their own grandpa's. That is family bonding, character development, and family conversation — all happening naturally. How to Get Started This Week If you are not reading aloud, especially in the summer when things slow down, I want to challenge you to pick a book today or tomorrow and start reading 10 minutes a day. Before breakfast, after breakfast, before bed, during lunch while the kids are eating and you have their full attention. Don't overthink it. Consistency matters more than length. It is better to do 10 minutes every single day this summer than to do 30 minutes today and then nothing for five days. Schedule it. Put it on your calendar so it actually happens. What C.S. Lewis Knew About Stories and Imagination C.S. Lewis lost his mother when he was very young, and books became a refuge for him. He spent countless hours in mythology, fairy tales, and classic literature. That imagination was what inspired the Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters. He said — reason is the natural organ of truth, but imagination is the organ of meaning. He believed this is where children grasp meaning. Through stories, children encounter courage, sacrifice, honesty, loyalty, and faith before they are even able to explain those things. Read alouds feed both the mind and the heart. They do more than teach reading skills. They shape your kids' imagination, character, and faith. Too often when we start school, we squash that imagination — sit down, do a bunch of workbooks, read this short story and answer these questions. That is not education. We need to protect curiosity and imagination. How did we get to where we are with technology and creativity? Because someone had imagination. And a lot of times that starts with really good books. Summer Reading Activities for Elementary Ages For elementary-aged kids, focus on wonder, curiosity, and family connection. Picture books, chapter books, family read alouds are all great places to start. Read under a tree. Go up in a backyard fort. Spread out a blanket at the park. Read during popsicle time. Build a blanket fort and read underneath it. Listen to audiobooks in the car. Make it fun. Draw your favorite characters. Create a craft related to the story. Act out scenes. Create a treasure hunt based on a book. Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother Caroline was a certified school teacher who believed in education and literacy as essential, not optional. Even during the difficult frontier years, no matter where they lived, she prioritized teaching her children to read. And those family experiences became the inspiration for the entire Little House series. What if you read Little House in the Big Woods this summer? Make homemade butter. Learn a pioneer chore. Cook over a fire. Compare pioneer life to modern life. Easy, fun, and meaningful — not just reading and writing. Summer Reading Activities for Middle School Middle schoolers often become passionate about specific topics. Right now my 11-year-old is into history and has been reading historical fiction. Maybe your kids are into horses, planes, ancient history, missions, nature, or sports. Let your child pick the topic — not you. They will be so much more interested. Then let them read three kinds of books on that topic — a fiction book, a biography, and a nonfiction. For Hunter, that looked like a fictional baseball story, a biography of Derek Jeter, and a book on the science and math of baseball. Ask one question after reading each day — what surprised you? What would you like to learn more about? What would you have done differently in that story? Then maybe do one extra activity. Watch a documentary, go to a museum, cook a related meal, build a model. These things develop critical thinking skills, ownership, and independent learning. I didn't want my kids to always have to do everything a teacher told them. I wanted them to think for themselves, plan for themselves, and make choices for themselves. Summer Reading Activities for High School Many moms stop reading aloud when their kids can read on their own. Big mistake. Many stop in high school. Even bigger mistake. Teens still need discussion. They still need to develop their listening skills. They need exposure to great ideas. And they still need family connection. We still read aloud in the morning, and Steve would read to them several evenings a week. For older kids, try a Christian biography, a mission story, historical fiction, great literature, the classics, or an apologetics book. Don't be afraid of a classic just because the vocabulary feels heavy — the ideas are worth it. Ask questions like — what character stood out today? What would you have done in that person's place? How does this compare to Scripture? What leadership lesson do you see? Choose one biography or one classic and read it together, then discuss it once a week. Over ice cream. At a coffee shop. On an evening walk. Keep it simple. Bringing It All Together Pair your read alouds with simple summer experiences. If you're reading about Harriet Tubman, go outside at night and look at the North Star — she followed it to guide enslaved people to freedom. If you're reading about a historical time period, bake something from that era. Just last week we were reading Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? and we made Johnny Cakes for breakfast — which we found out are actually called journey cakes because you could take them on a long journey and they wouldn't go bad. She was telling her dad all about it when he got home that evening. That is learning that sticks. Summer becomes intentional, relational, and memorable — not just educational. You don't have to recreate school. You don't need elaborate plans or expensive curriculum. One book. One conversation. One family read aloud can inspire a love of learning. And inspiring a love of learning? That's the easiest thing read alouds do. To help you get started, grab my free Read Aloud Magic resource in the show notes. It has 20 to 30 of our family's favorite read aloud books, tips for how to run read alouds, and simple ideas for turning books into meaningful family learning experiences — no workbook required. Will you take the read aloud challenge this summer? Start this week — just 10 minutes a day. That's all it takes.

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About

Homeschool Coffee Break helps you stop overwhelm and gain confidence so you know you're doing enough with your kids' education. Our top-notch interviews, practical tips & tricks, and real solutions will give you confidence in your homeschool.

Information

  • Creator
    Kerry Beck
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 How to Homeschool My Child All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Homeschool Coffee Break

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