Coffee With Carrie: Homeschool Podcast

Carrie De Francisco
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  • Parenting
  • Updated weekly

Sit down, relax, and take a little coffee break with Carrie. Using practical wisdom, years of experience, and a little bit of humor, Carrie De Francisco offers homeschooling advice, tips, and ideas to moms navigating the homeschooling adventure. Weekly coffee breaks and conversations with Carrie will give you the support and encouragement you need to help you homeschool one day at a time, one step at a time, and one cup of coffee at a time. Speaker, Homeschool Coach, Home Educator, and Author of A Home Education Handbook:  9 Questions to Ask for Simple and Balanced Home-Based Learning, Homeschool High School: A Handbook for Christian Education, and Just Breathe ( & Take a Sip of Coffee): Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.

  1. 2 days ago

    Math Morning Time: Tame Math Tears & Fears

    Join Carrie for this little coffee break.  In this episode, Carrie shares fun and simple ways to incorporate math picture books, games, read aloud, and problem-solving activities into your Morning (or Basket) Time.  Carrie shares how to use and rotate SIX of her favorite "Go To" Math Resources during morning basket time.  These super fun, quick, (and inexpensive) ideas are sure to be a hit with you and with your family.  Exploring math and practicing computation as a family can be as easy as pi!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up and join Carrie for little coffee and conversation about taming those math tears and fears. Math Picture Book List (PDF file):  CLICK HERE Recommended Math Picture Books with Amazon Links:  CLICK HERE Recommended Games (Including Math Games) with Amazon Links:  CLICK HERE BedTime Math APP:  CLICK HERE Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  2. 3 Sept

    Homeschooling Together: A Conversation with Friends About Grandparents Homeschooling Their Grandkids

    There’s a beautiful new trend in the homeschooling community: grandparents partnering with parents to homeschool their grandkids!  Do you work full-time or part-time and need extra support homeschooling your child? Are you a single parent who could use an additional hand? Or do you have a parent or mother-in-law who would love to play a more active role in your child’s education?  If so, you’ll love this week’s conversation with Valerie Costanza and Chris Gonzalez. Carrie sits down with this dynamic mother-daughter team who have been homeschooling Valerie’s daughter—and Chris’s granddaughter—Camila, together for the past eight years. From the very beginning, homeschooling has truly been a team effort.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie, Valerie, and Chris for a little coffee and conversation about homeschooling together and generational home education. Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip Register before August 8th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register TRIP ID # 4345 Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06  Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  3. 27 Aug

    History Alive! Revisited & Updated

    No textbook? No problem!  You can teach history without relying on dry, boring textbooks filled with sound bites, half-truths, political agendas, or revisionist narratives. Did you hate history class growing up? Are your kids bored to death when it’s time for history lessons? If you’re looking for a fresh way to make history come alive in your homeschool, then grab a cup of coffee and take a break with Carrie.  This week features an updated version of the popular “History Alive” episode from Season 1. Carrie shares practical, engaging, and inexpensive ways to teach history to the entire family.  In the first part, she shows how to organize your history lessons for the year and include everyone in the family. In the second part, Carrie offers six super easy and simple ways to make meaningful connections and help history feel relevant to your kids.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and learn how to teach history in a way that’s truly engaging and fun for the whole family. Field Trip Opportunity:  Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers.  Go to www.coffeewithcarrie.org / Costa Rica Trip for details or to sign up. Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06  Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  4. 20 Aug

    The Gentle VS Rigorous Home Education Debate: A Conversation with Christina Carpenter

    Is gentle homeschooling truly effective, or does it risk leaving children unprepared compared to a rigorous, structured approach?  In this episode, Carrie sits down with Christina Carpenter to explore the Gentle vs Rigorous Home Education debate.  Christina is a homeschool mom of four with over 15 years of experience (and one high school graduate), founder of Authentic Joy in the Journey, and creator of Bloom & Blossom conferences. They explore the definition what is “gentle” and “rigorous” homeschooling, examine what each looks like in daily life, and discuss how a gentle, wonder-filled education can also be rich, deep, and academically strong.  Carrie and Christina address common criticisms head-on: Is a gentler rhythm “lazy,” does it lack discipline, will it create educational gaps, or does it fail to prepare children for the future. Both Carrie and Christina share the key benefits they have seen in their own families and offer practical wisdom on the strengths and qualities this approach cultivates.  For moms just starting out or transitioning from a more traditional, highly structured style, this episode provides simple, actionable steps to begin shifting toward a gentler rhythm in the home.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Christina and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about gentle homeschooling. Check out Christina's Website:  https://www.christinacarpenter.org/ Learn about her 2027 Bloom & Blossom Mom Conference:  https://www.christinacarpenter.org/bloom-and-blossom-conference Connect with Christina on Instagram and TikTok  @authenticjoyinthejourney Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers. Sign up at  https://coffeewithcarrie.org/coming-soon Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06  Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  5. 13 Aug

    Practical Self Care for Busy Moms: A Conversation With Ingrid Fincher

    In this week’s coffee date, Carrie welcomes Ingrid Fincher of Healthy Holy MomLife to discuss how homeschooling moms can create healthy, Christ-centered rhythms that nurture their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being in every season of motherhood. Together, Carrie and Ingrid discuss practical ways overwhelmed moms can care for their spiritual, emotional, and physical health without adding more pressure to their already full plates. Ingrid shares realistic self-care for busy homeschooling moms, and how daily and weekly rhythms can help mothers cultivate peace, purpose, and sustainability in their homes. Whether you are feeling exhausted, stretched thin, or simply longing for more balance, this conversation is filled with practical tools and biblical encouragement to help you thrive instead of merely survive.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie and Ingrid for a little coffee and conversation. Learn more at https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/ Connect with Ingrid on Instagram @healthyholymomlife Join Healthy Holy Momlife All Access Membership:  https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/p/home  Listen to Truth Over Trends Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-trends-podcast-biblical-womanhood-faith/id1774374017 Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  6. 6 Aug

    Conversational Spanish Without the Grammar Grind: A Conversation with Georgina Tanefski

    In this week’s Coffee Break, Carrie sits down with one of her closest friends, Georgina Tanefski—better known in our homeschool community as Señora T.  A bilingual speaker with over ten years of teaching & tutoring experience, Señora T has been teaching Conversational Spanish to homeschoolers through fun, engaging, and inexpensive activities. She has successfully taught her own children and grandchild, along with hundreds of homeschool families across Southern California. In this episode, Carrie and Señora T discuss the many benefits of learning a second language and how to do it naturally—without declensions, conjugations, or endless grammar drills. If you’re looking for a relaxed and effective way to help your children learn Conversational Spanish (or any second language) at home, this episode is for you. Pour yourself a cup of espresso, put your feet up, and join Georgina and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about learning Spanish. Sign up for Señora T's Conversational Spanish Class (In Pasadena, CA Area):  FitSport Kinetics Accelerator Homeschool Program: https://fitsportkinetics.com/academic-classes/  Practice Your Conversational Spanish in Costa Rica!  Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register  TRIP ID # 4345  PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343 Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06  Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  7. 30 Jul

    Magnets For Our Attention: Declutter Your Home & Mind

    It's time to declutter and build a habit of organization.  "Instead of seeing items as objects, see them as magnets for your attention" (James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits).  Let's get rid of (or at least re-organize) those "magnets"!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares some of her secrets how to get (and stay organized) by decluttering not only your space but your mind as well.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and sip, sort, and simplify your home and mind with Carrie this week. Resources Mentioned in This Week's Episode: Adjustable Drawer Dividers: https://amzn.to/4u4ylQb Index Card Holder:  https://amzn.to/4uBBYgn Clear Plastic Storage Bins for Refrigerator: https://amzn.to/4tqSWgE Under Bed Storage Bin:  https://amzn.to/4wonylB Nuuly Clothes Subscription PaperBack Swap Club Pango Books: Buy & Sell Books with Other Readers Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register  TRIP ID # 4345  PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343 Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06  Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

  8. 23 Jul

    The Prayer Card System: A Conversation with Stacey Waller

    The habit of prayer does not and should not be complicated.  As homeschool moms and busy women, it is hard creating a consistent and meaningful prayer life.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie is talking with author, speaker, and her long-time homeschooling friend, Stacey Waller Holford, about her new book, The Prayer Card System.   The Prayer Card System is a simple, structured prayer method Stacey has used for more than 45 years.  What started as a way to remember to pray for people has grown into a system that has carried her through motherhood, business, loss, rebuilding, and many unexpected turns along the way.  You won't believe how simple it is!  Join Carrie and Stacey for a little coffee and conversation about making your prayer life meaningful and simple.  Order The Prayer Card System https://prayercardsystem.com/pcs-about Learn More About Stacey and The Prayer System at www.staceywaller.com  Connect with Stacey on Instagram @stacey_waller. Check out Stacey's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@staceywaller-author Support the show Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.   Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie  Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

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About

Sit down, relax, and take a little coffee break with Carrie. Using practical wisdom, years of experience, and a little bit of humor, Carrie De Francisco offers homeschooling advice, tips, and ideas to moms navigating the homeschooling adventure. Weekly coffee breaks and conversations with Carrie will give you the support and encouragement you need to help you homeschool one day at a time, one step at a time, and one cup of coffee at a time. Speaker, Homeschool Coach, Home Educator, and Author of A Home Education Handbook:  9 Questions to Ask for Simple and Balanced Home-Based Learning, Homeschool High School: A Handbook for Christian Education, and Just Breathe ( & Take a Sip of Coffee): Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.

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